Is the US-backed Gaza peace process in serious danger?
Israel continues killing Palestinians in Gaza and threatens to seize more of the Strip โ all in breach of Octoberโs ceasefire deal. Attacks go on every day, with more than 900 killed since then. So,โฆ
Israel continues killing Palestinians in Gaza and threatens to seize more of the Strip โ all in breach of Octoberโs ceasefire deal. Attacks go on ever
Read Full Story at Al Jazeera โWhy This Matters
The potential collapse of the US-backed Gaza peace process isnโt just a regional crisisโit risks reshaping Americaโs diplomatic credibility in the Middle East while fueling global perceptions of unchecked impunity. The erosion of ceasefire commitments could embolden actors across the conflict spectrum, from hardline factions in Israel to militant groups, while undermining efforts to prevent a broader regional escalation that draws in Lebanon, Iran, or even Western powers.
Background Context
The October ceasefire was brokered amid international exhaustion over the Gaza war, but it was always fragileโa product of exhaustion rather than durable consensus. Israelโs insistence on expanding control over Gaza, despite international law constraints, reflects a long-standing strategic calculus that prioritizes security over Palestinian sovereignty, while Hamasโs survival challenges the narrative of Israeli deterrence. Meanwhile, the US faces a paradox: its military and diplomatic support for Israel is increasingly strained by domestic political divides and global backlash.
What Happens Next
If Israel proceeds with further territorial seizures, the ceasefire may unravel entirely, triggering renewed hostilities or a humanitarian crisis that forces Arab states to reassess their engagement with normalization talks. Diplomatic fatigue could push the US toward unilateral actionsโeither tightening leverage on Israel or withdrawing supportโwhile Iran and its proxies may exploit the chaos to escalate pressure across multiple fronts. The biggest wildcard remains whether regional actors, like Egypt or Jordan, can mediate before violence spirals beyond Gazaโs borders.
Bigger Picture
This crisis spotlights a global pattern where ceasefires are treated as temporary pauses rather than stepping stones to peace, eroding trust in multilateral diplomacy. It also underscores the growing disconnect between Western-backed security frameworks and the realities on the ground, where military solutions consistently outpace political ones. As asymmetric warfare and civilian targeting become normalized, the Gaza conflict may set a precedent for how future conflicts are managedโor mismanagedโby the international community.

