By Sama Marwan,
There has been a clear shift in U.S. policy away from de-escalation in Gaza, reaching its peak in recent hours with the White House announcing full U.S.-Israeli coordination regarding the April 17th attacks, which have so far resulted in over 400 martyrs. Additionally, the U.S. Department of Justice has announced the formation of a joint task force between FBI officers and Israeli elements to pursue Hamas members.
These shifts in U.S. actions have sparked questions about President Donald Trump’s stance on Gaza and whether they indicate plans to empty the enclave of its residents, despite Trump’s earlier statement denying any intention to expel Palestinians from Gaza.
While some observers believe the April 17th attacks are a prelude to Trump’s so-called “Gaza Riviera” plan, others argue that the recent escalation aims to pressure Hamas into making concessions in prisoner exchange negotiations between both sides.
What Happened to the Ceasefire?
According to the Associated Press, the ceasefire agreement reached in mid-January was structured as a three-phase plan. The first phase ended two weeks ago, but Israel hesitated to move forward with the second phase, which was supposed to lead to a long-term ceasefire, a complete Israeli withdrawal from Gaza, and the release of all hostages captured by Hamas on October 7, 2023.
Under this agreement, the ceasefire would remain in effect as long as the second-phase talks continued, following over a year of mediation efforts by Egypt, the U.S., and Qatar.
The new plan required Hamas to release half of the remaining hostages in exchange for extending the ceasefire and negotiating a permanent truce. However, Israel did not mention any further releases of Palestinian prisoners, which was a key condition in the first phase.
Hamas rejected the new proposal, accusing Israel of attempting to sabotage the existing agreement.
Meanwhile, as tensions escalated, President Donald Trump issued what he called a “final ultimatum”, demanding that Hamas release all remaining hostages in Gaza.
Has the Ceasefire Ended?
Unless mediators intervene, Israel’s renewed assault may mark a full return to war, which has already killed tens of thousands of Palestinians and devastated Gaza.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who has repeatedly threatened to resume the war, stated that he ordered the airstrikes due to Hamas’ rejection of the new proposal.
“Israel will now act against Hamas with increasing military force,” Netanyahu declared.
The White House confirmed that it had been consulted and supported Israel’s actions.
In an interview with Fox News, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt stated:
“The Israelis consulted with the Trump administration and the White House regarding their attacks on Gaza tonight.”
According to the Associated Press, the resumption of fighting in Gaza will likely have regional repercussions.
The Houthis in Yemen condemned Israel’s strikes, stating that “the Palestinian people will not be left alone in this battle.” This raises concerns that the Houthis may resume attacks on ships in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden.
President Donald Trump issued a warning to Iran on Monday, stating that it would “face consequences” for any further Houthi attacks, signaling a potential escalation of the conflict.
The renewed violence in Gaza could also jeopardize the ceasefire agreement that Israel reached with Hezbollah in November.
Israeli-U.S. Coordination on Palestinian Displacement?
Israel resumed airstrikes amid reports that the U.S. and Israel have been in talks with multiple countries about relocating Palestinians from Gaza.
According to CBS News, Washington has approached Syria, Sudan, and Somalia to explore this possibility, despite Trump’s previous claims that he had abandoned the idea of expelling Gazans and developing what he once called the “Middle Eastern Riviera.”
Shortly before this escalation, the U.S. Department of Justice announced the formation of a special task force to investigate Hamas regarding the October 7, 2023 attack. The task force will also examine potential civil rights violations and anti-Semitic activities by individuals supporting Hamas.
This initiative, in collaboration with the FBI and Israeli authorities, will be integrated with Israel’s National Office for Counter-Terror Financing.
