The Netanyahu cabinet has approved the extension of a special order allowing the Israeli military to recruit up to 400,000 reserve soldiers by the end of May 2025. This decision, made on 2nd February, comes as Israel has blocked the transition to the second phase of the ceasefire agreement with Hamas, fuelling speculation about a resumption of the war on Gaza. A copy of the special order describes 2025 as a "year of war."  

Israel launched a brutal assault on Gaza on 7th October 2023, following a historic operation by Hamas in retaliation for escalating Israeli atrocities against the Palestinian people. Despite the massacre of over 48,000 Palestinians, mostly women and children, Israel has failed to achieve its stated goals of freeing Israeli captives and eradicating Hamas.  

On 19th January, Israel agreed to a three-phase ceasefire deal proposed by Hamas. The first phase, which concluded on Saturday, saw the release of 33 Israeli captives, including eight bodies, in exchange for 1,737 Palestinian prisoners held in Israeli jails. While Israel insists on extending the initial phase, Hamas is demanding a move to the second phase, which includes the release of all remaining living Israeli captives, the complete withdrawal of Israeli occupation forces from Gaza, and a permanent end to the war.  

Hamas has condemned Israel's proposal to prolong the first phase, calling it a "permanent manipulation" by the regime. Meanwhile, on Sunday, Israel blocked all humanitarian aid from entering Gaza, exacerbating the humanitarian crisis.  

Mahmoud Mardawi, a senior Hamas official, stated that the only path to regional stability and the return of prisoners is the full implementation of the agreement, starting with the second phase. He emphasised that Hamas insists on a permanent ceasefire, the complete withdrawal of Israeli forces, the reconstruction of Gaza, and the release of detainees as part of an agreed-upon deal.  

This escalation underscores the urgent need for a lasting solution to end the cycle of violence and address the humanitarian needs in Gaza.