Gaza City, February 19, 2025: In an unfortunate turn of events, marked by considerable instability of the existing ceasefire, the IDF proclaimed that it detected a projectile fired from the Gaza Strip on Wednesday. As per IDF reports, it would seem that the rocket was short, and fell inside Gazan territory. The new incident raises concerns over the stability of the truce established to halt the protracted conflict between Israel and Hamas.
Ceasefire Agreement -Tension: The existing ceasefire has been facilitated by the US, Egypt, and Qatar since January 19, 2025, aiming to bring the end to a 15-month-long war that took away numerous lives and left behind wreckage.
The ceasefire implemented certain steps: an initial six-week ceasefire, further safe release of hostages held by Hamas, and withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza urban centers. It also provided for reopening the Rafah border crossing and fostering humanitarian aid into the blockaded enclave.
Such is the nature of the existing ceasefire; mutual accusations of violations mar the agreement. On February 22, Israel delayed the release of another 600 Palestinian prisoners alleged by Hamas to be treated in an undignified manner: for these reasons, the ceasefire was not uniformly accepted. In retaliation, Hamas threatened to stop any further hostage releases in what can be described as an already heightened situation.
Humanitarian Crisis: The humanitarian situation in Gaza continues to be dire. At least 6 infants are reported to have recently died from extreme cold in shelters across Gaza, and medical facilities following more recently piled up with deteriorated essential supplies.
The delay in humanitarian aid deliveries has further compounded the predicament for the civilian population of Gaza, on some occasions feeding through, albeit partly, the fragility of the cease-fire.
The international mediators have intensified their endeavors to maintain the ceasefire and assist in addressing the status of ongoing conflicting issues. U.S. Special Envoy Steve Witkoff is about to return to the region for discussions to extend the ceasefire and secure the release of the rest of the hostages.
Egypt and Qatar continued to exert great mediatory influence in persuading both sides to refrain from reverting to large-scale hostilities.
Obstacles for Lasting Peace
The road to durable peace is laden with many challenges. Key sticking points are the demands of Israel for the disarmament of Hamas and the refusal of the group to disarm or give up any military capacity or governance in Gaza. Disputes also remain over the nature of governance of Gaza, with Israel opposed to anything allowing Hamas or the Palestinian Authority to govern Gaza at the war’s end.
The latest firing of rockets within Gaza is a reminder of how fragile the ceasefire is. On the two sides now, pressure is building up to comply with the ceasefire terms and find a constructive way to avert another round of violence. The international community is watching closely, now cognizant that the window for a sustainable resolution is likely to close.
