Gaza Peace Efforts Stall as Focus Shifts to Iran War

Nearly six months after a ceasefire halted large-scale fighting in Gaza Strip, conditions for residents remain difficult, with shortages and rising prices affecting daily life.

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Traders say supplies entering from Israel have become less reliable since the outbreak of the regional conflict involving Iran. The disruption has pushed up prices in local markets.

Hassan Faqawi, a shopper in Gaza, said the wider war has diverted attention away from Palestinian concerns.

Gaza faces shortages and rising prices

“Prices have doubled here,” he said. “The world is focused on Iran, America and Israel, and Gaza is forgotten.”

The fragile truce has largely held since October, when fighting paused under a peace initiative backed by Donald Trump. But uncertainty is growing as negotiations enter a sensitive phase.

Disarmament plan raises tensions

At the United Nations Security Council, diplomat Nickolay Mladenov outlined a framework linking Gaza’s reconstruction to the disarmament of Palestinian militant groups.

Under the proposal, weapons ranging from rockets to assault rifles would be surrendered in stages. The plan suggests that compliance would lead to the withdrawal of Israeli forces and the start of large-scale rebuilding.

Mladenov said such a move could mark a decisive break from the cycles of violence that have shaped life in Gaza for decades.

However, a Palestinian official familiar with Hamas said the group is likely to reject the proposals. That position raises the possibility that Israel could resume a major military campaign.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has previously demanded that Hamas disarm, warning it must do so “either the easy way or the hard way.”

Aid and reconstruction remain limited

Despite promises of expanded humanitarian support under the Trump peace initiative, aid agencies say recovery efforts remain slow.

Oxfam policy lead Bushra Khalidi said humanitarian organisations still struggle to secure basic supplies.

Negotiations frequently focus on limited access points and small quantities of fuel, she said, leaving large-scale recovery efforts largely stalled.

According to aid groups, reconstruction materials have not yet been allowed into Gaza because Israeli authorities fear they could be diverted to build tunnels or weapons.

Israel’s military agency overseeing crossings, COGAT, rejected claims of shortages and accused Hamas of exploiting resources.

Meanwhile, sporadic Israeli air strikes have continued in Gaza despite the ceasefire. Israeli officials say the attacks target Hamas militants.

Governance uncertainty inside Gaza

Although Hamas publicly supported the formation of a technocratic Palestinian committee intended to manage Gaza temporarily, there are signs the group is strengthening its internal control.

Sources say Hamas has reorganised parts of its Interior Ministry, appointing new police leaders and establishing temporary headquarters and detention sites.

Witnesses report that armed patrols and checkpoints have appeared across parts of Gaza, with security forces stopping vehicles and pedestrians during nighttime curfews.

Traders also complain that Hamas has imposed additional taxes on goods and services, further raising prices for residents.

Peace process faces doubts

International donors pledged about $7 billion for Gaza reconstruction during discussions earlier this year, including meetings connected to the World Economic Forum.

But analysts say progress remains uncertain as diplomatic attention shifts to the wider regional conflict.

Amjad Iraqi of the International Crisis Group said mistrust continues to surround the peace framework, with pressure mounting on Hamas to accept disarmament proposals.

At the United Nations, Palestinian envoy Riyad Mansour said efforts continue to implement the next stage of the peace plan.

Plans include introducing around 200,000 temporary housing units and deploying thousands of newly trained Palestinian police officers, some prepared in Egypt. They are expected to operate alongside a proposed international stabilisation force.

Yet many residents remain sceptical about whether the process will move forward.

With the region’s attention increasingly fixed on the Iran conflict, some Palestinians fear the fragile ceasefire could unravel before reconstruction begins.

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Adapted by ASEAN Now. Source 28 March 2026

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