What's happened
Since early October 2025, a fragile ceasefire between Israel and Hamas in Gaza has been repeatedly violated. Israeli airstrikes have killed over 300 Palestinians, including civilians, while Hamas operatives have launched attacks near the 'Yellow Line' dividing Gaza. Israel killed senior Hamas commanders in recent strikes. Hezbollah's top military commander was also killed in Lebanon, escalating tensions despite ceasefires. Aid efforts face challenges amid ongoing violence and political deadlock.
What's behind the headline?
Persistent Fragility of the Ceasefire
The ceasefire between Israel and Hamas remains tenuous, with repeated violations undermining prospects for lasting peace. Israeli strikes targeting Hamas commanders and operatives, including those trapped in tunnels near Rafah, demonstrate Israel's intent to enforce demilitarization, a key condition of the US-backed peace plan. However, Hamas's refusal to disarm and continued attacks across the 'Yellow Line' reveal deep mistrust and unwillingness to compromise.
Regional Escalation and Hezbollah's Role
The killing of Hezbollah's top military commander in Beirut by Israeli airstrikes signals a dangerous escalation beyond Gaza, threatening to destabilize the broader region. Hezbollah's vow to assess responses raises the risk of renewed conflict in Lebanon, complicating diplomatic efforts.
Humanitarian and Political Deadlock
Despite the ceasefire, over 300 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli strikes, and aid distribution remains fraught, with organizations like the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation shutting down. The stalled negotiations over safe passage for Hamas fighters trapped in tunnels and the failure to implement disarmament stall reconstruction and peace efforts.
Forecast and Consequences
Without significant shifts, the ceasefire will likely continue to be punctuated by violence, with Israel persisting in military pressure to dismantle Hamas's capabilities. Hamas's resistance and regional actors' involvement, including Qatar and Turkey's ambiguous roles, suggest the conflict's resolution remains distant. The risk of broader regional conflict, especially involving Hezbollah, will persist, impacting regional stability and international diplomatic efforts.
Reader Impact
For global readers, the ongoing conflict underscores the fragility of ceasefires in protracted conflicts and the complexities of enforcing peace plans involving non-state actors. The humanitarian toll and regional instability have implications for international security and humanitarian policy.
What the papers say
The Times of Israel provides detailed accounts of Israeli military operations targeting Hamas operatives emerging from tunnels in Rafah, highlighting the killing of senior Hamas commanders and the ongoing efforts to locate and neutralize fighters trapped underground. It reports on the military's stance that Hamas must disarm for peace to progress, reflecting Israel's firm position on demilitarization.
The New Arab offers a broader regional perspective, emphasizing the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, with UNCTAD estimating reconstruction costs exceeding $70 billion and warning of Gaza's economic collapse. It also covers Hezbollah's reaction to the killing of its top commander in Beirut, underscoring the risk of escalation beyond Gaza. The New Arab highlights the challenges faced by aid organizations and the political deadlock hindering peace.
The NY Post presents a more assertive narrative, focusing on Hamas's refusal to disarm and the repeated violations of the ceasefire, including attacks on Israeli forces. It underscores Israel's determination to dismantle Hamas militarily, quoting officials who vow to persist "the easy way or the hard way." The Post also discusses the US-backed peace plan's challenges, including the reluctance of Arab nations to enforce disarmament.
Al Jazeera reports on the human cost of the conflict, detailing Israeli airstrikes killing Palestinians, including children, and the fragile nature of the ceasefire. It highlights Palestinian calls for international intervention to halt Israeli violations and documents increased violence in the West Bank amid the Gaza conflict.
Together, these sources illustrate a complex, multi-faceted conflict with military, humanitarian, and diplomatic dimensions, reflecting divergent perspectives on responsibility, violations, and prospects for peace.
How we got here
The ceasefire, brokered by the US and enacted on October 10, 2025, aimed to halt hostilities after years of conflict following Hamas's 2023 attack on Israel. It included provisions for Hamas disarmament and an international security force. However, Hamas has refused to disarm, and both sides accuse each other of violations, with Israel controlling over half of Gaza and Hamas fighters trapped in tunnels near Rafah.
Go deeper
- What is the status of Hamas fighters trapped in Rafah tunnels?
- How has Hezbollah responded to the killing of its commander?
- What are the prospects for the US-backed peace plan in Gaza?
Common question
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Why Are Israel's Airstrikes Escalating in Gaza and Lebanon?
Recent developments in Gaza and Lebanon have seen a sharp increase in Israeli airstrikes, leading to rising casualties and regional tension. Many wonder what’s driving this escalation and what it means for civilians and international peace efforts. Below, we explore the key questions about the current conflict, the roles of Hamas and Hezbollah, and the prospects for peace.
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Why Are Israel's Airstrikes in Gaza and Lebanon Increasing Now?
Recent escalations in Israel's airstrikes in Gaza and Lebanon have raised many questions. Why are these attacks intensifying despite ongoing efforts for peace? What are the regional implications? In this page, we explore the reasons behind the surge in military actions, the current state of the ceasefire, and what it means for the future of the region.
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What Are the Biggest News Stories Today?
Stay updated with the latest global headlines, from ongoing conflicts in the Middle East to major events like the 2026 Winter Olympics and issues in justice and immigration. Here are the key stories shaping today's news landscape and answers to common questions you might have about them.
More on these topics
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Hamas is a Palestinian Sunni-Islamic fundamentalist militant organization. It has a social service wing, Dawah, and a military wing, the Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades.
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The Israel Defense Forces, commonly known in Israel by the Hebrew acronym Tzahal, are the military forces of the State of Israel. They consist of the ground forces, air force, and navy. It is the sole military wing of the Israeli security forces, and has
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Gaza most commonly refers to:
Gaza Strip, a Palestinian territory on the eastern coast of the Mediterranean Sea
Gaza City, a city in the Gaza Strip
Gaza may also refer to:
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Benjamin Netanyahu is an Israeli politician serving as Prime Minister of Israel since 2009, and previously from 1996 to 1999. Netanyahu is also the Chairman of the Likud – National Liberal Movement.
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Hezbollah is a Shia Islamist political party and militant group based in Lebanon. Hezbollah's paramilitary wing is the Jihad Council, and its political wing is the Loyalty to the Resistance Bloc party in the Lebanese parliament.
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The Gaza Strip, or simply Gaza, is a self-governing Palestinian territory on the eastern coast of the Mediterranean Sea, that borders Egypt on the southwest for 11 kilometers and Israel on the east and north along a 51 km border.
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Israel, formally known as the State of Israel, is a country in Western Asia, located on the southeastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea and the northern shore of the Red Sea.
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Lebanon, officially known as the Lebanese Republic, is a country in Western Asia. It is bordered by Syria to the north and east and Israel to the south, while Cyprus lies west across the Mediterranean Sea.
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The Palestinian people, also referred to as Palestinians or Palestinian Arabs, are an ethnonational group comprising the modern descendants of the peoples who have lived in Palestine continuously over the centuries and who today are largely culturally and
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Donald John Trump is an American politician, media personality, and businessman who served as the 45th president of the United States from 2017 to 2021.
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Qatar, officially the State of Qatar, is a country located in Western Asia, occupying the small Qatar Peninsula on the northeastern coast of the Arabian Peninsula.
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The United Nations is an intergovernmental organization that aims to maintain international peace and security, develop friendly relations among nations, achieve international cooperation, and be a centre for harmonizing the actions of nations.
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The United Nations Security Council is one of the six principal organs of the United Nations, charged with ensuring international peace and security, recommending the admission of new UN members to the General Assembly, and approving any changes to the UN
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The United States of America, commonly known as the United States or America, is a country mostly located in central North America, between Canada and Mexico.
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The Islamic Jihad Movement in Palestine, known in the West as simply Palestinian Islamic Jihad, is a Damascus-based Palestinian Islamist organization formed in 1981.
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Eyal Zamir is a major general in Israel Defense Forces. He was the Deputy Chief of the General Staff from December 2018 and was replaced by Herzi Halevi in July 2021.
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Syria, officially the Syrian Arab Republic, is a country in Western Asia, bordering Lebanon to the southwest, the Mediterranean Sea to the west, Turkey to the north, Iraq to the east, Jordan to the south, and Israel to the southwest.
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Turkey, officially the Republic of Turkey, is a transcontinental country located mainly on the Anatolian peninsula in Western Asia, with a smaller portion on the Balkan peninsula in Southeastern Europe.
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Ghazi Hamad was chairman of the border crossings authority in the Gaza Strip. He was Deputy Foreign Minister in the Hamas government of 2012.
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Poland, officially the Republic of Poland, is a country located in Central Europe. It is divided into 16 administrative subdivisions, covering an area of 312,696 square kilometres, and has a largely temperate seasonal climate.
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Israel Katz is an Israeli politician who currently serves as a member of the Knesset for Likud and Minister of Finance. He has previously held the posts of Minister of Agriculture, Minister of Transportation, Minister of Intelligence and Minister of Forei
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Rafah is a Palestinian city in the southern Gaza Strip. It is the district capital of the Rafah Governorate, located 30 kilometers south of Gaza City. Rafah's population of 152,950 is overwhelmingly made up of former Palestinian refugees.