The October 2025 ceasefire was supposed to be the beginning of the end. Instead, February 2026 has become a “violent limbo.” On paper, there is a truce; on the ground, the war has simply changed shape. Here is why the fighting persists:
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!1. The “Phase Two” Deadlock
- Israel refuses to fully withdraw until Hamas is completely disarmed.
- Hamas refuses to disarm or release remaining detainees until every Israeli soldier leaves Gaza. Because neither side will blink, the diplomatic process has stalled, leaving soldiers and militants facing off across a tense “no-man’s land.”
2. Tactical “Flare-ups” vs. Total War
We aren’t seeing the massive carpet-bombing of 2024, but we are seeing precision friction.
- The “Yellow Line”: This is the unofficial border where Israeli troops remain stationed inside Gaza. Small skirmishes here frequently escalate into airstrikes.
- Targeted Raids: Israel continues to carry out “surgical” operations to prevent Hamas from reorganizing, which the Palestinian leadership views as a direct violation of the ceasefire terms.
3. The Power Vacuum
There is currently no one officially “in charge” of Gaza.
- The transition to a Technocratic Government (a group of non-political experts) has been delayed by internal Palestinian politics and Israeli vetoes.
- Without a clear police force or governing body, local gangs and militant remnants are filling the void, leading to chaos that often pulls the Israeli military back into the fray.
4. The Humanitarian Powder Keg
Peace is hard to maintain when people are starving.
- Aid Bottlenecks: With the Rafah crossing only just beginning to “trickle” open this month, the lack of food and medicine has led to civil unrest.
- Winter Conditions: Millions are still in tents. Desperation often leads to border protests, which frequently turn into lethal confrontations with security forces.
Summary: The fighting continues because the “Ceasefire” was a band-aid on a bullet wound. It stopped the big bombs, but it didn’t solve the question of who gets to hold the keys to Gaza.
