“Operation Peace for Netanyahu”: From Ceasefire to Massacre

By Elijah J. Magnier –

The sheer intensity of Israel’s renewed assault on Gaza left no doubt that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had meticulously laid the groundwork to violate the ceasefire agreement and resume full-scale military operations. His decision to reignite the war was not an act of military necessity but a deliberate political strategy, carefully orchestrated to stay in power and manipulate US President Donald Trump and to use the renewed offensive as a tactical manoeuvre to pressure Hamas while freeing himself from the political and military constraints imposed by the ceasefire.

Netanyahu’s approach underscores his deliberate rejection of diplomatic commitments in favour of unbridled military escalation, disregarding US mediation efforts and ignoring the grave humanitarian and political consequences. His return to war is not just about military objectives; it serves a broader agenda – one that prioritises his personal political survival and long-term regional dominance over any genuine commitment to peace, stability or even the safety of Israeli hostages still held in Gaza.

His calculated escalation has been carried out with blatant disregard for Palestinian lives and the fate of Israeli prisoners, who are now in grave danger of dying in the relentless bombardment. The renewed offensive not only signals an attempt to intimidate and weaken the Palestinian resistance and massacre more civilians, but also lays the groundwork for a possible ground invasion. It is no longer unlikely that Netanyahu will order the Israeli army to enter Gaza with the aim of occupying strategic areas and forcibly transferring Palestinians within Gaza. This would be a dangerous escalation, setting the stage for long-term territorial control, deepening the humanitarian catastrophe and further destabilising an already volatile region.

What makes this war unique in Israel’s history is the unprecedented lack of Israeli public consensus, a stark departure from past military campaigns that typically enjoyed broad national support. The decision to return to full-scale hostilities stems not from a clear strategic or military necessity, but rather from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s deep political desperation. His increasingly fragile and embattled government has chosen to disregard the ceasefire agreement he personally signed – a deal brokered and endorsed by current US President Donald Trump – in favour of escalation over diplomacy.

Netanyahu’s rejection of the very ceasefire he agreed to demonstrates his willingness to put his own political survival ahead of military pragmatism and humanitarian considerations. His insistence on continuing the war, despite internal dissent and growing public opposition, reflects a calculated effort to shift the focus away from his political failures. By opting for renewed conflict rather than negotiations, he is deepening an already dire humanitarian crisis condemned by the international community.

The return of Ben Gvir and his ministers

The return of Itamar Ben Gvir to the government follows Prime Minister Netanyahu’s strategic decision to resume military hostilities in Gaza, effectively reversing his earlier commitment to a ceasefire brokered under direct US supervision and explicitly requested by President Trump following his recent electoral victory. Netanyahu swiftly reinstated the far-right Security Minister Ben Gvir, alongside two additional ministers from Ben Gvir’s Otzma Yehudit party, thereby reinforcing the government’s hardline ideological stance. Ben Gvir had previously resigned in protest against Netanyahu’s acceptance of the ceasefire agreement with Hamas, condemning it as a betrayal of Israel’s national security and dignity, and advocating instead for the controversial and radical proposal of relocating the entire Palestinian population of Gaza to another country.

Ben Gvir’s reinstatement clearly signals Netanyahu’s deliberate alignment with a more aggressive military posture aimed at satisfying his right-wing coalition partners and maintaining internal political cohesion amid mounting pressure. With this manoeuvre, Netanyahu now firmly controls a solid majority of 68 out of 120 Knesset members, safeguarding crucial parliamentary support even in the event of defections within his coalition. Moreover, the ultra-Orthodox (Haredi) ministers, who earlier threatened resignation over two contentious military enlistment laws scheduled for imminent Knesset votes, find their political leverage significantly diminished due to Ben Gvir’s …