Ceasefire? Not Anymore

The Times

Well, that didn’t last. Just two months after agreeing to pause the chaos, the Israel-Hamas war is back in full swing.

As we reported last week, the Trump administration attempted to extend the ceasefire with a “bridge proposal,” but Hamas rejected it outright. This time around, Hamas also refused to release the hostages, further escalating tensions. Israel, in turn, stated that Hamas was preparing to launch another attack. Israel Defence Minister Israel Katz made it clear: the strikes are all about achieving “war objectives,” which include bringing the hostage’s home. However, Hamas remained defiant, demanding a complete Israeli withdrawal from Gaza—something Israel was never going to accept.

With no diplomatic resolution in sight, Israel wasted no time in ramping up military operations. The Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) launched an aggressive campaign, targeting key Hamas commanders and operational infrastructure. Airstrikes and precision attacks aimed at dismantling Hamas’s military capabilities have been relentless.

Meanwhile, on the political front, tensions are reaching a boiling point. Prime Minister Netanyahu has doubled down on his commitment to bringing all hostages home while decisively eliminating Hamas’s threat. Defence Minister Katz did not hold back in his warnings, stating that Hamas was about to face “the gates of hell,” echoing President Trump’s aggressive stance. Hamas, in response, condemned Israel’s actions as “treacherous aggression” and called on the international community to intervene.

As the situation continues to unfold, global attention is now turning to Iran’s potential role in the conflict. President Trump has issued stark warnings against Iranian involvement and the actions of the Houthi rebels in Yemen. The coming weeks will determine just how much further this conflict escalates and whether any diplomatic off-ramps remain viable.