Broken promises and manipulation: How the US and Israel Undermined the Gaza Ceasefire

By Elijah J. Magnier

When US President Donald Trump claimed credit for brokering a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas just days before his inauguration on 20 January 2025, it was heralded as a diplomatic victory. The deal, backed by Egypt and Qatar, aimed to halt the devastating war in Gaza temporarily, facilitate the delivery of humanitarian aid and secure the release of Israeli hostages and Palestinian prisoners. For a brief moment, it appeared to be a breakthrough. But less than three months later, the ceasefire is unravelling. Civilian casualties are rising again, and the credibility of the US as a neutral mediator is under severe strain.

Instead of strengthening the ceasefire, the US introduced additional unilateral conditions that were never part of the original agreement – effectively giving Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu political cover to resume his devastating assault on Gaza. Washington shifted the blame to Hamas while ignoring Israel’s repeated violations and even tacitly supporting its threats of further territorial expansion. The ceasefire, however flawed, had opened a narrow window for de-escalation. That window has now slammed shut – not because of Palestinian intransigence, but because Israel refused to honour its commitments and the US administration’s shifting position.

Sensing the collapse of the deal, Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz – following Netanyahu’s instructions – escalated tensions further by publicly threatening to permanently occupy parts of Gaza if the remaining hostages were not released. This open endorsement of collective punishment and land seizure under the pretext of security only deepens suspicions that Israel never intended to implement the ceasefire fully.