Israeli Violations Complicate Gaza Peace Process
Repeated Israeli violations of the Gaza ceasefire are making the path toward lasting peace “incredibly difficult,” according to Turkey’s Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan. Speaking in Miami during a meeting with senior officials from the United States, Egypt, and Qatar, Fidan warned that Israel’s continued breaches of the October ceasefire agreement threaten progress toward the second phase of the peace plan.
“The ongoing violations by Israel are making the process far more challenging. All parties agree on this issue, and we discussed ways to prevent further violations,” Fidan said in remarks reported by Turkish state news agency Anadolu. He added that these breaches jeopardize the broader peace plan proposed by US President Donald Trump.
International Mediation Efforts
Senior diplomats from the United States, Egypt, Qatar, and Turkey met Trump’s special envoy, Steve Witkoff, to review the first phase of the Gaza ceasefire, which went into effect on October 10. The meeting aimed to assess progress, encourage restraint, and ensure all parties comply with the agreement.
A statement from Witkoff emphasized the importance of upholding commitments and exercising restraint. “We reaffirm our full commitment to the entirety of the President’s 20-point peace plan and call on all parties to cooperate with monitoring arrangements,” the envoy said.
Continued Israeli Attacks on Gaza
Despite the ceasefire, Israel has reportedly violated the agreement over 730 times since October through airstrikes, artillery shelling, and direct shootings, according to Gaza’s Government Media Office. In the latest incident, six people were killed when Israeli forces targeted a school sheltering displaced civilians, raising the number of Palestinian deaths since the ceasefire to around 400.
The ongoing attacks have intensified humanitarian concerns, with winter storms worsening conditions for displaced Palestinians. Aid agencies have warned that Israeli restrictions are severely limiting the delivery of life-saving assistance.
Statements from Qatar and Turkey
Qatar’s Prime Minister, Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani, has also voiced concern about Israel’s near-daily breaches of the truce, stating that these violations threaten the entire ceasefire agreement. Sheikh Mohammed met with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio in Washington, urging swift progress toward the next phase of the peace deal to end hostilities in Gaza.
Fidan described the Miami meeting as promising, noting that discussions focused on implementing the second phase following the release of the last hostages. “The parameters for moving to the second phase are being discussed. Yesterday’s meeting, following Sharm el-Sheikh, was the most important one,” Fidan said.
First Phase Achievements
The first stage of the Gaza peace agreement included several key achievements:
- Expanded humanitarian aid
- Partial withdrawal of military forces
- Return of captives’ bodies
- Reduction in hostilities
The next phase aims to establish a transitional authority in Gaza, replacing Hamas’s control, alongside deploying an international stabilization force. Rubio emphasized that disarming Hamas is critical to preventing the collapse of the peace process.
Hamas Committed to Ceasefire
Hamas’s chief negotiator, Khalil al-Hayya, met with Turkish intelligence chief Ibrahim Kalin in Istanbul, reaffirming the group’s commitment to the ceasefire despite Israeli violations. The Hamas delegation highlighted the urgent need to halt these breaches and addressed the deteriorating humanitarian situation, stressing the importance of delivering tents, caravans, and heavy equipment to protect civilians from winter hardships.
Ongoing Casualties and Humanitarian Crisis
Israeli attacks continue to impact Gaza civilians. On Saturday, an airstrike targeted two people in northern Gaza, reportedly because they posed a threat to Israeli forces. Meanwhile, the Palestinian Civil Defence reported recovering 94 bodies from collapsed buildings in Gaza City. Thousands more are believed to remain buried under rubble, as Israel’s military campaign has killed over 70,700 people—mostly women and children—and injured approximately 171,000 since October 2023.
Conclusion: A Fragile Ceasefire Amid Escalating Violence
The fragile Gaza ceasefire remains under serious threat due to repeated Israeli violations, ongoing hostilities, and worsening humanitarian conditions. While international mediation offers a pathway toward stabilization, experts warn that progress hinges on adherence to the ceasefire, protection of civilians, and the establishment of transitional governance in Gaza.
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