Netanyahu defies ceasefires, vows continued strikes on Gaza and Lebanon
By isabelle // 2025-11-24
Copy
 
  • Netanyahu vows to continue aggressive strikes on Gaza and Lebanon.
  • He is defying ceasefire agreements and acting without international approval.
  • Attacks in Beirut and southern Lebanon have killed civilians.
  • Analysts say perpetual war benefits Netanyahu politically.
  • The international community is enabling this behavior.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has vowed to continue aggressive strikes on Gaza and Lebanon, openly defying existing ceasefire agreements. The embattled leader claims Hamas and Hezbollah have violated the deals, using this justification for new attacks that killed dozens over a 24-hour period, including civilians in Beirut and southern Lebanon. This aggressive posture reveals a nation operating beyond international norms, proudly using extreme force to maintain control. Netanyahu’s declaration came on Sunday as he addressed his cabinet, stating Israel's intention to keep striking what he calls "terrorism on several fronts." His rhetoric emphasized unilateral action, directly challenging the notion that Israel requires external approval for its military responses. "All the talk that ‘we must obtain approval’ from this or that party is simply a complete lie," Netanyahu asserted. "We act without relying on anyone."

Israel's aggression in Beirut

The reality on the ground confirms this aggressive stance. Israeli strikes hit Beirut's southern suburb in a significant escalation, killing at least one person. Meanwhile, in southern Lebanon, an Israeli drone strike killed a civilian performing home restoration work in Aita al-Shaab, a village that has endured massive destruction since hostilities intensified in October 2023. These attacks represent a disturbing pattern of ceasefire violations that have killed more than 33 people in November alone and more than 300 since the previous year. In Gaza, the situation remains equally dire. Israeli strikes killed 21 Palestinians on Saturday, with Israel claiming a Hamas fighter crossed the "yellow line" and opened fire on troops. Hamas officials accused Israel of exploiting isolated incidents to unravel the ceasefire and revive its assault. The ongoing violence demonstrates how quickly diplomatic agreements collapse when one party operates with what critics describe as a "perpetual war" mentality. Netanyahu's political calculations cannot be ignored in this escalation. Analysts note that keeping Israel on a constant war footing benefits the prime minister personally by delaying his corruption trials and satisfying his far-right coalition partners. These partners see what one analyst called "a historic opportunity to advance their vision of ethnically cleansing Palestine" and reshaping Israel's internal governing principles.

Israel isn't facing enough consequences for its actions

The international community bears significant responsibility for enabling this behavior. With the United States providing consistent diplomatic cover and military funding, Israel faces minimal consequences for violating ceasefire agreements. This dynamic enables them to act however they please, knowing that international accountability remains unlikely despite well-documented human rights violations. The timing of these escalated strikes reveals a strategic calculation. With the world's attention diverted to other global crises, Netanyahu appears emboldened to intensify military actions that might otherwise draw stronger international condemnation. The human cost continues to mount beneath the political rhetoric. In Gaza, reconstruction remains impossible as Israel blocks aid and attacks humanitarian infrastructure. In Lebanon, civilians attempting to rebuild their lives face constant threat from aerial attacks. These realities expose the hollow nature of ceasefire agreements when one party continues to exercise military dominance over civilian populations. As the attacks intensify, the fundamental question remains whether the international community will continue tolerating what multiple human rights organizations have termed an apartheid system. With Netanyahu openly boasting of independent military action and civilian casualties mounting, the world faces a moral test it has consistently failed. The pattern of violence suggests that without addressing root causes like Israeli apartheid and military occupation, these cycles of destruction will continue indefinitely. Sources for this article include: TheCradle.co TimesOfIsrael.com AlJazeera.com
Copy