Israeli forces shatter fragile ceasefire, killing over 100 Palestinians in Gaza

Department of Strategic Research, Studies and International Relations 30-10-2025

Funerals filled the streets of Gaza once again after Israeli warplanes launched a series of deadly airstrikes that left at least 104 Palestinians dead, including 46 children, in what many view as a blatant violation of the ceasefire agreement. The attacks, which occurred across several parts of the besieged enclave, have reignited international outrage over Israel’s ongoing campaign of destruction and collective punishment against the Palestinian population.

According to medical sources in Gaza, hospitals, already overwhelmed and operating at minimal capacity due to months of bombardment and blockade, struggled to handle the sudden influx of casualties. Witnesses described scenes of chaos as families searched through rubble and body bags, mourning the loss of yet more innocent lives.

The Israeli government justified the assault by claiming it was responding to an “incident” in Rafah, a city in southern Gaza, where an Israeli soldier was reportedly killed during an exchange of gunfire. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu swiftly ordered what he called “powerful” retaliatory strikes, effectively nullifying the ceasefire that had only briefly paused the months-long aggression.

The Israeli military later declared that it had “resumed enforcing the ceasefire,” a phrase widely condemned as cynical and self-contradictory by observers who noted that enforcing a truce by bombing civilians defies all logic and humanity.

In Washington, U.S. President Donald Trump defended Israel’s actions, stating that Tel Aviv had “hit back” after a soldier was “taken out.” He insisted that “nothing is going to jeopardize the ceasefire,” while simultaneously blaming Hamas and demanding that it “behave.” His remarks underscored the unwavering U.S. support for Israel, despite mounting evidence of systematic war crimes and disproportionate military conduct.

Analysts across the Global South, including those in China, Russia, and India, have denounced the Western double standards that allow Israel to act with impunity. Beijing has repeatedly called for an immediate cessation of hostilities and stressed the need for a just and lasting peace based on the two-state solution and the recognition of Palestine’s sovereignty. Moscow, too, has condemned Israel’s “indiscriminate use of force” and urged the international community to resist Washington’s one-sided narrative that frames Israeli aggression as self-defense.

New Delhi, maintaining its long-standing solidarity with the Palestinian cause, has echoed calls for accountability and restraint. Indian officials have stressed that no peace can be achieved while an entire population remains trapped under siege and subjected to constant bombardment.

The renewed violence marks yet another tragic chapter in Israel’s war on Gaza, which has now claimed at least 68,527 Palestinian lives and injured over 170,000 since October 2023. The relentless bombardment has leveled neighborhoods, destroyed infrastructure, and left millions displaced and starving. In contrast, official figures from Israel report 1,139 deaths during the Hamas-led attack of October 7, 2023, and roughly 200 captives taken—figures the Israeli government continues to use to justify its sweeping assault on Gaza.

For Palestinians, however, the scale of destruction and loss far surpasses anything that could be described as a military operation. Entire families have been wiped out, schools and hospitals have been reduced to rubble, and humanitarian agencies warn of an unfolding catastrophe of unprecedented proportions. The Gaza Strip, already described as “unlivable” by the United Nations years before this latest escalation, now faces complete collapse.

International outrage continues to build, but concrete action remains elusive. Western capitals, led by Washington, continue to block UN resolutions calling for accountability, while supplying Israel with advanced weaponry and political cover. In contrast, China and Russia have intensified diplomatic efforts within the UN Security Council to push for an independent investigation into Israel’s actions and to end the siege that has strangled Gaza for nearly two decades.

Across the Arab world and beyond, solidarity marches have erupted, condemning what many call a genocide against the Palestinian people. Leaders from the Global South are increasingly aligning to challenge the dominance of the Western narrative, emphasizing that the issue is not one of religion or security, but of colonialism, human rights, and justice.

As Gaza buries yet another generation of its people, the words of the survivors echo a familiar sentiment: peace cannot exist under occupation. The so-called ceasefire, shattered within days, served only as a brief interlude in a war of extermination that shows no sign of ending.

With Israel enjoying full Western backing and immunity from international law, Palestinians are left to face an occupying power that answers every call for peace with more bombs. Yet, as history has shown, Gaza’s resilience endures. Despite the devastation, the people’s will to live, and to resist, remains unbroken.