The Performative Ceasefire in Gaza

What Happened

Since the October 2025 ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, Israeli military attacks on Gaza have continued, killing more than 1,000 Palestinians, according to Tariq Kenney-Shawa, an associate fellow at Palestinian think tank Al-Shabaka. The total death toll since the war began on 7 October 2023 has surpassed 73,000, including those killed after the truce. Kenney-Shawa characterizes the ceasefire as 'performative,' noting that while the pace of killing has slowed, it has not stopped. Separately, U.S. President Trump signed an interim ceasefire to halt military operations in Iran and Lebanon for 60 days, reopening the Strait of Hormuz and requiring a $300 billion reconstruction fund, though the U.S. is not obliged to contribute. Kenney-Shawa warns that Israel is exploiting the current political window to advance initiatives like Section 224, which deeply integrates the U.S. military-industrial complex with Israeli defense and technology sectors, aiming to entrench U.S. support despite rising public criticism.

Key Actors

Why It Matters

The article reveals the enduring violence in Gaza despite diplomatic agreements, challenging the narrative that ceasefires alone can end Palestinian suffering. It highlights a strategic Israeli push to lock in irreversible U.S. military and industrial integration while political conditions remain favorable, potentially shielding Israel from shifts in American public opinion and future administrations.

Watch For

Progress on the Section 224 initiative to merge U.S. and Israeli defense sectors; whether the U.S.-Iran-Lebanon ceasefire holds beyond the 60-day term; any changes in U.S. Congressional composition or administration that could alter the current unconditional support for Israeli operations in Gaza and the broader region.