The night sky over Gaza was once again illuminated by airstrikes on March 18, shattering a ceasefire that had been held for just one day shy of two months. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced a campaign of “increasing military strength” against Hamas, the Palestinian armed militant group, signaling a significant re-escalation. Constant updates chronicle the attacks and counterattacks, highlighting the renewed intensity of the conflict in the region. This escalation begs the question: what is the true cost of this for the people of Gaza and the broader region?
The end of the ceasefire did not come as a shock to much of the global community, as it was in line with the Israeli Defense Forces’ stated objectives and alleged violations of the ceasefire agreement. Analysts suggest that Israel’s actions correspond with Netanyahu’s stated goals of expanding Israel’s territorial and military influence in the region. However, the tactics being used to get there highlight the severe cost of conflict. An Israeli strike on a Gaza school on April 3 resulted in 27 deaths and roughly 80 injuries. The Palestinian Ministry of Health in Gaza reported that within the two-week period since the renewed offensive, approximately 1,163 civilians, including 300 children, were killed in what the IDF’s chief spokesperson, Brig-Gen Effie Defrin, describes as strikes against “terrorist targets.” Israel has stated that its actions aim to establish ‘security zones’ and a new military corridor.
Subsequently, the hostage situation is an influential factor in the current operations. AP News reported that on April 2 Prime Minister Netanyahu stated that the establishment of corridors, specifically the Morag corridor, which runs between the southern Palestinian cities of Rafah and Khan Younis, and the reasserting of control of the Netzarim corridor, in the center of the Gaza strip, serve as a method to put pressure on Hamas for the release of hostages. “We are cutting up the strip, and we are increasing the pressure step by step, so that they will give us our hostages,” Netanyahu affirmed.
The strategic implementation of these corridors, bisecting Gaza, raises questions about long-term territorial control and the potential displacement of civilian populations. Security experts have noted the use of precision strikes in urban environments, which, while aimed at minimizing collateral damage, still result in significant civilian casualties. Israel has been condemned, notably by the International Court of Justice, for their claims of targeting such areas under the pretense of them being Hamas terrorist hotspots. Diplomatic efforts to broker a new ceasefire have faced significant challenges, as both sides remain firmly entrenched in their positions. Multiple international organizations have urged for humanitarian access to Gaza, but the ongoing hostilities have hindered their efforts. The humanitarian situation in Gaza has once again deteriorated rapidly since the resumption of hostilities, with the familiar shortage of food, water, and medical supplies.
Against this backdrop of escalating conflict and the urgent issue of hostages, Connecticut College has hosted a variety of dialogues and events related to the ongoing violence in Gaza. In mid-February, the Government and International Relations Department welcomed Spencer Ackerman, an acclaimed American journalist and author Ackerman, author of the 2021 book, “Reign of Terror: How the 9/11 Era Destabilized America and Produced Trump,” in which he references U.S. co-optation of Israeli defense and surveillance tactics.
Many of Ackerman’s ideas can now be used to possibly better understand the breakdown of the ceasefire. He argued that the post-9/11 era normalized certain forms of violence and surveillance for Americans and facilitated the U.S.’ policy basis for arms deals with Israel. “The enemy always mutates,” Ackerman said to the students and faculty, highlighting the perpetual nature of the War on Terror as it was institutionalized across presidential administrations. Ackerman also highlighted the Trump administration’s policy of further arming Israel and portraying Hamas as “the rejectionists” when negotiations faltered; a possible tie to why airstrikes returned so promptly. While some hope for peace was briefly kindled by the January ceasefire, Ackerman’s words serve as a stark reminder of the fragile nature of such agreements and the enduring influence of American foreign policy on the region. On Zeteo, an independent journalism platform, Ackerman issued a call to action: “Americans watching horror again unfold in Gaza should make no mistake… this is our war, our body count.” His analysis upholds that the breakdown of the ceasefire, and the subsequent resumption of violence, is not an isolated event, but a direct consequence of long-standing policies and actions, both in the Middle East and within the United States.
With the return to combat between Israel and Hamas, questions have arisen around campus and everywhere about what comes next. While U.S. policy has certainly played a role in the escalation, the snapping of the ceasefire reflects a complex interplay of military strategy, hostage negotiations, and regional power dynamics. Hostage deals, a principal factor in the return to warfare, are a particular sticking point in the negotiation of a lasting ceasefire. The long-term implications of actions between both Israel and Hamas, as well as U.S. foreign policy, remain a critical point of analysis.
Clear, concise and extremely informative. Props to the writer and editors.