The bombs may have paused on paper, but in reality, Israel’s assault on Palestinians has never stopped.
On Tuesday, Israeli forces targeted Ein al-Hilweh, the largest Palestinian refugee camp in Lebanon, killing at least 13 people with two missiles. Hours later, an Israeli drone strike in Bint Jbeil claimed another life, and the following day warplanes struck several villages across southern Lebanon.
In Gaza, the violence is just as relentless. Israeli air raids and drone strikes killed at least 23 Palestinians on Wednesday alone, hitting Gaza City, Rafah, and Khan Younis. These attacks come despite ceasefire agreements in both Gaza and Lebanon—and despite U.S. President Donald Trump’s announcement that the region had “entered an era of peace.”
But for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, the war is far from over. And in practice, it never paused.
A Ceasefire in Name Only
On November 10, exactly one month after the Gaza ceasefire was declared, Netanyahu stood before the Knesset and announced that the war “has not ended.” He insisted that Israel’s enemies were “rearming,” justifying continued military strikes.
Since that so-called ceasefire took effect, Israel has killed more than 280 Palestinians in Gaza.
Israel’s assaults have also extended across borders. In Lebanon, despite a November 2024 ceasefire, Israeli forces have killed more than 100 civilians over the past year. Meanwhile, daily raids, home demolitions, and shootings continue in the occupied West Bank.
“There was never any intention to respect the ceasefire”
Analysts say none of this is surprising.
“There was never any evidence that the Israelis would respect the ceasefire in Gaza or Lebanon,” said Elia Ayoub, a Lebanese-Palestinian researcher. “Netanyahu counts on U.S. backing and a total absence of international accountability to keep attacking civilians.”
On October 13, 2025, Trump gathered dozens of political leaders in Egypt’s Sharm el-Sheikh to declare peace in Gaza and the region. Yet a month later, Israel continues its near-daily bombardment of both Gaza and Lebanon.
As of November 19, the death toll from Israel’s genocidal war on Gaza has reached 69,513 Palestinians.
People Still Can’t Return Home
On the ground, Palestinians and Lebanese civilians say the ceasefire is meaningless. Families cannot return to their homes or rebuild their lives. Israel has attacked reconstruction equipment and blocked much of the aid promised to Gaza’s besieged population.
“As long as Netanyahu expects impunity, no one in Lebanon or Palestine is safe,” Ayoub said.
Why Netanyahu Won’t End the War
Experts say Netanyahu is determined to keep Israel locked in endless war—because it benefits him politically and shields him from accountability.
Rida Abu Rass, a Palestinian political scientist, said Netanyahu has repeatedly sabotaged ceasefire negotiations to extend the conflict.
Inside Israel, protests calling for an end to the war have largely faded after the release of Israeli captives. Netanyahu now claims the war must continue because Hamas and Hezbollah are “regrouping,” though analysts argue these claims are exaggerated or fabricated.
Netanyahu, they say, is motivated by three main goals:
1. Protecting his political career
He is held together by a far-right coalition that openly calls for the ethnic cleansing of Palestinians. Ending the war risks collapsing his government.
2. Delaying his corruption trials
Netanyahu is facing three corruption cases. The war has allowed him to repeatedly delay court hearings, with judges citing “security priorities.”
3. Avoiding accountability for the October 7 failures
Investigations could end his political career—and he knows it.
A Long War with a Long-Term Purpose
Netanyahu’s ambitions extend beyond the immediate conflict.
“Throughout his career, he has worked to displace Palestinians and expand settlements,” Abu Rass said. “The war opened the door to pursue these goals more aggressively.”
The International Criminal Court has already issued arrest warrants for Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant for war crimes in Gaza.
Ayoub argues that the so-called ceasefires are designed not to stop the war, but to buy Israel time and silence criticism.
“The ceasefires are gaslighting campaigns meant to delay accountability,” he said. “The Israeli strategy is simple: you cease, we fire. And if anyone fires back, Israel intensifies its attacks.”
The World Has Turned Away—But the Violence Has Not
As the international community shifts its attention elsewhere, Israel’s attacks continue across Gaza, Lebanon, and the West Bank. Analysts warn that unless the root causes are addressed, the region will face repeated cycles of Israeli aggression.
“New escalations are inevitable unless Israeli apartheid and military occupation are dismantled,” Abu Rass said.
For Palestinians and Lebanese civilians living under the shadow of Israeli fire, the message is clear:
Peace exists only in statements. On the ground, the war never ended.
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