Despite an October ceasefire deal brokered by Egypt, Qatar, Turkey, and the United States, a wave of leaks and threats from Israeli military and political officials has pointed to a possible return to war in Gaza.

Israel’s Channel 15 quoted a military general staff official as saying that an additional round of fighting in Gaza is almost inevitable, justifying this by Palestinian resistance group Hamas' alleged refusal to disarm.

Israeli newspaper Yedioth Ahronoth reported that the expected cabinet meeting will not focus only on Gaza, but will also address tensions between Washington and Tehran, developments in Lebanon, and Israel’s readiness to take military action against Iran in coordination with the United States if negotiations fail.

The Gaza ceasefire framework says the first phase requires an immediate halt to fighting, the withdrawal or repositioning of Israeli forces from populated areas in Gaza to agreed locations, and a significant increase in the entry of humanitarian aid.

Israel has not carried out these commitments, continuing daily attacks in the Gaza Strip and pushing to move to phase two talks, particularly on disarming armed groups, before completing phase one.

Israel has also expanded a restricted “orange line” zone in Gaza, that further limits movement for civilians and aid workers.

It has also opposed the entry of a transitional administrative committee already formed to manage Gaza’s civilian affairs.

Tel Aviv, supported by Washington, seeks to reverse the order of the agreement and focuses on the disarmament of Palestinian groups, which is to be discussed as part of phase two.

Informed sources told Al Jazeera that Hamas had submitted its response to mediators’ proposals, calling for Israel to fully and immediately implement the commitments of the first phase of the agreement, including opening all crossings and allowing the entry of aid into the Gaza Strip, provisions that Tel Aviv has clearly violated.

Hamas maintains that any discussion of comprehensive security arrangements must guarantee the political rights of the Palestinian people, reiterating its demand for a full Israeli withdrawal and reconstruction of the strip.

On Saturday, Hamas spokesperson Hazem Qassem told Anadolu Agency that the group “dealt positively with the mediators’ proposals to ensure the implementation of all aspects of the agreement, in light of Israeli intransigence and clear violations.”

“There are multiple proposals, and what was initially presented was unacceptable as it adopted the Israeli position, but there has since been movement by mediators to find different approaches, with Hamas showing willingness to engage, particularly with Egyptian, Qatari, and Turkish efforts,” he added. 

The escalation coincides with warnings from Israeli analysts that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu may push to resume the war to secure electoral gains ahead of general elections scheduled for October.

Israel’s opposition has sharply criticized Netanyahu following US President Donald Trump’s announcement of a ceasefire with Iran, describing it as a “political disaster” and a “strategic failure” and accusing Netanyahu of failing to achieve the war’s objectives.

For Palestinians, these developments come against a backdrop that they see as a continuation of the war by other means.

Since the ceasefire was announced 10 months ago, Israel has committed more than 2,400 violations, killing more than 831 people and wounding more than 2,342, adding to a total of over 72,608 Palestinians killed and more than 172,445 injured since October 2023.

A Palestinian child and a man have also been killed by Israeli fire in Khan Younis in southern Gaza on Sunday. The Palestinian news agency WAFA reported that a man was shot dead by Israeli forces near the town of Bani Suheila, east of Khan Younis, after 15-year-old Riyad Naji Nimr Abu Nimer was killed in a drone strike in the same city.

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