Gaza Archives - Page 3 of 159

Ceasefire No: Israel Seeks to ‘Eat’ Into Gaza

CrossFireArabia
June 12, 2026

As Palestinian factions meet in Cairo to discuss Gaza’s future governance, aid groups and analysts warn that realities on the ground are moving in the opposite direction of the ceasefire framework meant to pave the way for reconstruction and recovery.

While negotiations continue, Israel has expanded its control over large parts of the enclave, strikes have continued, humanitarian access remains severely restricted and reconstruction has yet to begin, leaving Gaza’s more than 2 million residents trapped in a deep humanitarian crisis.

“The implementation of the first phase of the Gaza ceasefire has remained limited and inconsistent, particularly due to repeated airstrikes,” Riham Jafari, advocacy and communications coordinator at ActionAid Palestine, told Anadolu.

Around 1,000 people have been killed and 3,000 injured since the ceasefire began, according to Gaza Health Ministry figures.

In September, US President Donald Trump announced a 20-point plan outlining a framework, with the first phase including a ceasefire and prisoner exchange between Israel and Palestinian factions.

However, implementation of the agreement remains unfulfilled amid ongoing Israeli military operations and mounting humanitarian restrictions.

Israel deepens territorial control

While the ceasefire framework envisioned a gradual Israeli withdrawal, analysts say developments on the ground point in the opposite direction.

Under the Trump plan, Israeli forces initially withdrew to a demarcation known as the Yellow Line, leaving Israel in control of roughly 53% of Gaza’s territory. Since then, Israeli officials have acknowledged expanding their control further.

In May, Israel said it had increased its control to 60% of the Gaza Strip and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he had instructed the military to take control of up to 70%.

Rob Geist Pinfold, a lecturer in international security at the Defence Studies Department at King’s College London, said Israeli policy has focused on maintaining long-term military control while avoiding direct responsibility for Gaza’s population.

“Israel’s plans for Gaza have been remarkably consistent: refuse any direct rule over or responsibility for the territory’s impoverished residents, take and hold as much territory within Gaza as possible whilst emptying it of residents and stop any credible external actor from rebuilding Gaza.”

According to Pinfold, Israel does not need to occupy the entire territory to achieve its objectives.

“Indeed, doing so would be counter-productive for Israel without ethnically cleansing the territory of its 2 million inhabitants, since it would find itself responsible for their welfare,” he said.

Instead, he said, Israel appears to be seeking greater strategic depth through buffer zones and allowing its military to operate freely against perceived threats. The expansion also further entrenches Israel into Gaza and makes future withdrawals less feasible, he added.

“Israel is happy to expand further into the territory, however, as a way to squeeze Hamas and keep the possibility of a comprehensive ‘voluntary migration’ – that is, in fact, not voluntary – open,” he said.

Pinfold argued that Israel has been able to act with impunity as the US focuses on other priorities, including negotiations with Iran.

Jafari said plans to place 70% of Gaza under Israeli control raise serious concerns for Palestinians confined to the remaining territory.

“Such a move would further restrict the already limited space available to civilians, many of whom have been repeatedly displaced during the ongoing conflict and are struggling to access shelter, food, water, healthcare and other essential services,” she said.

Humanitarian promises unfulfilled

Aid agencies say many commitments outlined in the ceasefire framework’s first phase have yet to be implemented.

Under the agreement, Gaza was expected to receive between 500 and 600 aid trucks daily. According to Jafari, actual deliveries have averaged between 150 and 250 trucks a day, with many carrying commercial rather than humanitarian goods.

More than 95% of Gaza’s population depends on humanitarian aid for daily food.

“Aid is being weaponized by obstructing it,” said Jafari.

Humanitarian groups say the consequences extend beyond food shortages.

Large parts of Gaza remain covered in rubble, with bodies still believed to be trapped beneath collapsed buildings. Damaged sewage systems, mounting waste and overcrowded displacement sites have contributed to growing public health concerns.

“Access to safe water is limited, and solid waste is accumulating in residential areas. This is attracting pests and rodents that contaminate food and living spaces and increase cases of illness, particularly among children,” said Jafari.

According to assessments cited by UN agencies, rodents and other pests were reported at roughly 80% of sites hosting displaced families, affecting an estimated 1.45 million people.

Reports from Gaza have shown children and others suffering from rodent bites, large infestations and a growing number of skin conditions like scabies. At the same time, hospitals have limited essential medications to treat those affected.

Despite ongoing mitigation efforts with pesticides, Jafari said that health risks remain high.

Closure of key crossings

Humanitarian organizations say access restrictions continue to hamper relief efforts.

Since May 24, Israeli authorities have kept the Zikim Crossing in northern Gaza closed, leaving Kerem Shalom as the last remaining crossing for approved cargo entering the enclave.

The Rafah crossing between Gaza and Egypt is strictly limited to pedestrian traffic.

“Furthermore, on 1 June, Israeli forces began routing humanitarian convoys through a new road, with a new checkpoint, to reach Kerem Shalom from inside Gaza,” Jafari said.

“As a result, only some of the supplies planned to be collected from Kerem Shalom could be picked up and the volumes of incoming fuel dropped.”

Israel also temporarily closed the Kerem Shalom and Rafah crossings following an Iranian missile attack on June 8 before reopening them in subsequent days.

On Wednesday, the UN said Kerem Shalom had been reopened but congestion and operational limits continued.

Reconstruction remains stalled

Despite reconstruction being a central objective of the ceasefire framework, experts say virtually no rebuilding has begun.

Former UN Special Rapporteur on the Right to Adequate Housing Balakrishnan Rajagopal said Gaza’s housing stock and civilian infrastructure remain devastated.

“Housing and civilian infrastructure has been totally destroyed and is still being destroyed, including in Gaza City a few days ago,” he said. “Estimates are that over 90% of the built environment is damaged or destroyed.”

He argued that meaningful reconstruction cannot begin until military operations cease, access restrictions are lifted and supplies can enter Gaza in significantly larger quantities.

“This is a grave situation in terms of violation of international law and a fundamental challenge to the idea of an international community based on rule of law,” Rajagopal said.

Opinion

Battle of Wills: Resistance V. Israeli Settlements

CrossFireArabia
June 10, 2026

By Najla M. Shahwan|

As a part of its broader policy push to increase Israeli settlement presence in the occupied West Bank, Israel has approved recently the construction of more than 2,000 new housing units distributed across several strategic locations.

Pushing to annex more and more of the Palestinian territory Far-right Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich has announced a major expansion of illegal settlements in the occupied West Bank.

Smotrich, who holds authority over parts of Israel’s civilian administration in the West Bank, said on 3 June that a planning committee had approved the construction of 2,162 new Jewish homes, of which 1,006 units will be in a new illegal settlement near Jerusalem, 922 near the city of Nablus and 234 near Hebron.

“We are continuing to build the Land of Israel in practice,” Smotrich said in a statement.

The new homes would “strengthen our hold on the land, reinforce Israel’s security, and establish clear facts on the ground that prevent the creation of an Arab terror state in the heart of the country”, he added.

Smotrich has been sanctioned by the United Kingdom, France, and other states, which accuse him of inciting violence against Palestinians.

The minister has denounced the sanctions and said they would not change Israeli policy.

Besides, on June 4, Israeli forces had delivered demolition notices to a number of shops at the intersection of the town of Bazariya, northwest of Nablus, to make way for a colonial road.

Meanwhile, some settlers stormed the village of Deir Sudan, northwest of Ramallah, accompanied by bulldozers, to seize it.

The developments come months after the Israeli government approved a land registration process in February that allowed Israel to take territory as “state property” if Palestinians could not prove ownership.

Palestinians seek the West Bank, including East Jerusalem and Gaza, as part of a future independent state.

Israel, meanwhile, maintains military and administrative control over large parts of the territory, while expanding illegal settlements in several areas.

The settlement expansion comes amid ongoing debate within Israel’s political leadership over the future of the occupied territories.

The Israeli Knesset gave on June 4 final approval to legislation granting tax exemptions to dozens of illegal settlements in the occupied West Bank.

In a statement, the Knesset said lawmakers approved the bill on its final reading, granting tax benefits to illegal settlements located in what it called the “eastern confrontation line zone.”

The legislation was sponsored by Knesset members Zvi Sukkot, from the Religious Zionism party led by Finance Minister

Bezalel Smotrich, and Limor Son Har-Melech, from the far-right Jewish Power party led by National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, along with other lawmakers.

The bill passed by 32-23 votes. Under the law, occupants will be entitled to tax exemptions throughout the tax year and may choose among available tax benefits if they qualify for more than one exemption.

The legislation is set to take effect in January 2027 and remain in force through Dec. 31, 2027. It also authorizes the finance minister, with approval from the Knesset Finance Committee, to extend its validity for additional periods of up to two years each.

In a report published at the end of May, the Israeli anti-settlement group Peace Now said the law would classify dozens of illegal settlements as areas whose residents are eligible for substantial tax benefits.

The group noted that the original bill sought to extend tax benefits to all settlements but was narrowed due to its high cost and professional objections, ultimately applying to 58 illegal settlements.

According to Peace Now, the updated version primarily includes illegal settlements where support for the Religious Zionism party is particularly strong.

The international community considers settlements built in the occupied Palestinian territory illegal under international law and a major obstacle to a two-state solution.

Netanyahu’s government has openly championed a significant expansion of illegal settlement activity since taking office at the end of 2022. According to Peace Now estimates, more than 750,000 Israeli occupiers live in the occupied West Bank including East Jerusalem.

While some international actors have warned against further annexation or expansion, enforcement measures remain limited.

The United States has historically expressed opposition to settlement expansion, although its positions have varied in intensity depending on administration policy.

On its part US President Donald Trump ‘s administration has been far less critical of the fast-expanding Israeli settlements.

The approval of thousands of new settlement homes further entrenches Israeli presence in the West Bank and complicates already fragile prospects for a negotiated political settlement.

Additionally, settlement expansion changes demographic and geographic realities on the ground, making territorial compromise increasingly difficult and it reinforces perceptions that a viable independent state is becoming harder to achieve.

For Israel, supporters of settlement growth argue it strengthens security and consolidates control over strategically important areas while critics, , say it increases friction with Palestinian communities and fuels long term instability.

However, with diplomatic efforts largely stalled, continued expansion is likely to remain a central flashpoint in the conflict and a key issue in deepening regional tensions.

Najla M. Shahwan is a Palestinian author, researcher and freelance journalist and published this article in the Jordan Times

News

Did Little Malak Deserve Death?

CrossFireArabia
June 9, 2026

Palestinian child Malak Qaddoum has succumbed to injuries she sustained in an Israeli strike west of Gaza two days ago.

She is the third member of her family to be murdered after her father and sister were also murdered.

Analyses

Netanyahu, Iran and The ‘Destructive’ Israeli Personality

CrossFireArabia
June 8, 2026

By Dr Adnan Naeem

The recent escalation between Israel and Iran suggests that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is currently experiencing one of his most complex and perplexing political moments. The man who has long relied on military force as a tool to resolve conflicts and impose realities now finds himself besieged by outcomes that fall short of his stated objectives and the immense cost borne by the entire region.

In Gaza, after months of war, destruction, and continuous military operations by the Israeli army, fundamental questions remain unanswered: Where is the victory promised to the Israelis? Where are the strategic achievements that justified the continuation of the war? The Gaza battle was transformed from a project for a swift resolution into an open-ended war of attrition, with the political, security, and humanitarian costs increasing daily and rapidly.

As for the northern front (Lebanon), Netanyahu has failed to impose the equations he repeatedly wanted to create. Instead of restoring Israel’s image of deterrence, new realities have emerged confirming that the region does not respond to threats, and that the power balance has become far too complex to be determined by the rhetoric of force or displays of military capability.

At the heart of these shifts, Iran has emerged as a model distinct from the many adversaries Israel has traditionally dealt with. Tehran does not merely declare its right to retaliate; it exercises this right whenever it perceives its interests or sovereignty are threatened. The recent regional confrontations demonstrated that a policy of threats is no longer sufficient to subdue or deter adversaries while military calculations have become far more costly and complex than Netanyahu imagined.

It is to be noted while Netanyahu sometimes speaks of opportunities for negotiation or security and political arrangements, he at the same time continues to generate the conditions for escalation. How can peace be built while the circle of confrontation widens? And how can the world be convinced of the seriousness of the political process when the language of force remains the sole instrument for managing the conflict?

He appears like a cunning fox, claiming to be engaged in negotiations for peace but focusing on security matters rather than the political file. The security file establishes a limited, relative stability, not a lasting one, waiting to reignite conflict in the region, particularly on the Lebanese front.

Netanyahu works on downplaying and delaying the importance of resolving the political issue first. He thus evades political obligations and commitments under international pressure regarding Lebanese rights for instance, most importantly ( is a complete withdrawal, even from the Shebaa Farms, demarcation of borders, including maritime borders, and Lebanese rights to the gas fields off the Lebanese coast – the Karish field).

This contradiction reveals a crisis deeper than a mere disagreement over military tactics; it reflects a personal political predicament facing Netanyahu. He understands – as he approaches the general elections – that a ceasefire could open the door to domestic accountability regarding security and political failures, and could revive questions about his political future, not to mention corruption cases and crises such as his dismantling of the judicial system and the conscription of Haredim. Therefore, it seems the continuation of the tension gives him more room to maneuver than political compromises would.

Within Israel itself, and as the general elections approaches, the gap between Netanyahu and growing segments of society widens. The opposition is gaining strength, protests continue unabated and the families of fallen and wounded soldiers are raising their voices in an unprecedented manner. Meanwhile, criticism is mounting from security and military figures who believe the government lacks a clear vision to resolve the crisis.

Today, Netanyahu’s image resembles that of his missiles: Soaring into the sky, creating a deafening roar, but quickly returning to reality, where difficult questions and stubborn facts await him. Wars may postpone crises, but they do not eliminate them, and escalation may temporarily alter the landscape, but it does not create a lasting victory.

Conversely, the United States appears more inclined toward de-escalation and preventing the region from erupting into a full-blown war. Washington understands its strategic interests require containing the conflict, not expanding it. It prefers pursuing political and security arrangements that reduce the likelihood of a major confrontation. However, this approach clashes with Netanyahu’s desire to keep the region on the brink of conflagration, hoping to alter the facts on the ground or escape the demands of domestic politics.

Between heaven and earth, Netanyahu oscillates between the rhetoric of power and the reality of impotence, between his political ambitions and the limits of what military force can achieve. As for the region, it continues to pay the price for this oscillation, which has so far produced nothing but more tension and instability.

This article, written by Dr Adnan Naeem, an Israeli affairs expert, was published in the Arabic Maannews website and reprinted in crossfirearabia.com

News

Israeli Gunboat Kills Gaza Fisherman

CrossFireArabia
June 7, 2026

An Israeli naval vessel opened fire with machine guns on a fishing boat and instantly killed fisherman Muhammad Musa Abu Jayyab. The fishing boat was on the seashore off Deir al-Balah, Sunday morning according to local sources. The Israeli navy deliberately targets fishermen in the Gaza Strip with gunfire, shells, and tear gas, resulting in the deaths and injuries of many, as well as the destruction and confiscation of fishing boats. The Gaza Ministry of Health announced, Saturday, that the death toll and number of injuries since the beginning of the genocidal war on the Gaza Strip on October 7, 2023, rose to 72,961 martyrs and the injury of 173,092.