The Gaza ceasefire isn’t — Washington helps the war go on

Nov. 14 — A month has passed since the latest ceasefire was declared in Gaza, yet Israeli forces continue attacking Palestinian neighborhoods from Khan Younis to Rafah. The Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF) have repeatedly violated the agreement, enforcing the siege as tightly as ever. Food and medicine are still blocked, starvation is still being used as a weapon, and Palestinians continue to be killed even as world headlines speak of a “truce.”

Washington echoes the language of restraint while continuing to arm the assault. The genocide has not paused — it has simply been repackaged.

Washington has long treated Israel as its “unsinkable aircraft carrier” in West Asia, a key platform for projecting U.S. power and protecting corporate interests. The ongoing assault on Gaza is another chapter in that strategy. Behind the talk of de-escalation is a stark reality: continued attacks, deepening siege, expanding U.S. involvement, and a war economy that profits from Palestinian suffering.

The ‘ceasefire’ is being violated every day

The ceasefire announced on Oct. 10 was never honored in practice. Since then, the IOF has continued launching airstrikes, drone attacks, and artillery fire across Gaza. Israeli operations during this supposed truce have killed 271 Palestinians and injured 622. In the first month alone, at least 242 Palestinians were killed.

As Francesca Albanese, the UN’s special rapporteur on human rights in the occupied Palestinian territories, put it: “Ceasefire according to Israel = ‘you cease, I fire.’”

This pattern extends beyond Gaza. In Lebanon — where a ceasefire has stood for a year — Israel has carried out more than 500 strikes on the south and the Bekaa Valley, killing over 300 people. The term “ceasefire” provides a political shield while the attacks continue.

And while the world is told the situation is stabilizing, Washington is quietly expanding its direct role in the occupation.

Washington is deepening its military presence

Even as U.S. officials claim they will not put “boots on the ground in Gaza,” documents and reports suggest Washington is considering a major expansion of its military presence near the enclave. In early November, Israeli sources reported plans for a $500 million installation to house several thousand troops as part of an international “stabilization force.” Bloomberg reported that the U.S. Navy circulated internal requests for cost estimates on a temporary base supporting 10,000 personnel. 

Though CENTCOM denied reports of a confirmed base, the U.S. has already deployed 200 troops to the Civil-Military Coordination Center (CMCC) in Kiryat Gat—a foothold that represents a significant escalation of U.S. involvement in the occupation.

This is not a break with past policy. Every U.S. administration — Republican or Democrat — has strengthened Israel’s military operations. A permanent base would deepen U.S. involvement in the siege and give Washington more direct control over the occupation.

As the U.S. lays the groundwork for a long-term military presence, the IOF continues another form of warfare each day — one carried out through hunger.

Starvation is being used as a weapon

The humanitarian crisis in Gaza is not incidental. It reflects a deliberate long-term strategy. Since 2007, Israel’s blockade has been structured to “enforce surrender through starvation.” Under the current ceasefire, this policy has intensified.

Since Oct. 10, Israeli authorities have blocked 76% of the agreed-upon humanitarian aid. More than 350 basic food items — including eggs, meat, fresh vegetables, and legumes — have been prohibited, while non-essential items were allowed in.

Aya Abu Qamar, a mother of three, describes the daily struggle:

“I haven’t found eggs, chicken, or cheese since food supplies started entering the Gaza Strip. All I see are chocolate, snacks, and instant coffee. These aren’t our daily needs. We’re looking for something to keep our children alive.”

By the end of October, 463 Palestinians — including 157 children — had died from malnutrition.

This is not a separate crisis from the military assault. The siege, the starvation, and the bombardment are part of the same strategy — and part of the same set of economic interests.

War profits drive the assault

Gaza’s coastline holds natural gas reserves valued at up to $4 billion per year. Control of these resources has long been identified as a strategic objective underlying the assault on Gaza.

Meanwhile, U.S. arms manufacturers are profiting from the genocide. Wall Street giants BlackRock, Vanguard, and State Street are major shareholders in the largest U.S. weapons firms: Raytheon Technologies (RTX), Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman, General Dynamics, and Boeing. Every missile, bomb, drone, and tank part used against Gaza yields direct profit.

As Raytheon CEO Greg Hayes said:

“Across the entire Raytheon portfolio, you’re going to see a benefit of this restocking. … on top of what we think is going to be an increase in the [Defense Department] budget.”

The genocide in Gaza is not only political — it is profitable.

The endgame for Gaza

In February 2025, President Trump openly proposed that the U.S. “take over” Gaza and transform it into the “Riviera of the Middle East” — but only after forcibly relocating its 2 million Palestinian residents to other countries. The proposal, which was condemned internationally as ethnic cleansing, reveals the ultimate vision behind the destruction: complete dispossession followed by redevelopment for profit.

The genocide is ongoing

A month into the declared ceasefire, Israel continues to bomb homes, block food and medicine, and starve an entire population. Washington continues to fund and arm the assault while preparing for a deeper military role. Corporations continue to profit from every weapon dropped.

The facts are unavoidable: The ceasefire is not real. The siege continues. The genocide continues.