Netanyahu Uses Gaza Ceasefire to Accelerate Killings Ahead of Election

*TL;DR: Israeli forces have killed at least 880 Palestinians since the ceasefire, a pattern critics say Netanyahu is exploiting to tighten military control before September elections.

Context A ceasefire brokered seven months ago was meant to halt Israel’s assault on Gaza. Instead, the pause has become a backdrop for continued strikes, demolitions and a humanitarian squeeze. The war, which began in October 2023, has already claimed 72,797 Palestinian lives according to Gaza’s health ministry.

Key Facts - Israeli troops have killed 880 Palestinians since the ceasefire began, raising the overall death toll to 72,797. - Mohannad Mustafa, an academic on Israeli affairs, says Netanyahu blocks aid and reconstruction to keep Gaza under full military occupation. - The Gaza Rights Center documented 12 instances in May where Israeli forces ordered phone‑based evacuations before razing homes in Nuseirat, Bureij and Maghazi. The demolitions targeted residential blocks in areas Israel does not directly control. - Analysts link the timing of the intensified operations to Israel’s September national election, suggesting the prime minister is stalling a lasting peace to satisfy right‑wing coalition partners. - United Nations human‑rights officials warn the ceasefire is being used as cover for war crimes, while the U.S.-led Board of Peace struggles to enforce its terms.

What It Means The pattern of phone‑ordered evacuations followed by demolition indicates a systematic effort to make large swaths of Gaza uninhabitable, beyond any immediate military objective. By restricting humanitarian aid and reconstruction, Netanyahu appears to be shaping a narrative of total occupation that could bolster his electoral base. The lack of a functional international oversight body further weakens any pressure on Israel to honor ceasefire commitments.

As the September vote approaches, the international community faces a test: whether to intervene diplomatically to halt the escalation or allow the electoral calculus to dictate Gaza’s fate. Watch for any shifts in U.S. policy and the response of the Board of Peace in the coming weeks.