Israeli Airstrikes Jeopardize Ceasefire

January 31, 2026 — New Jewish Narrative is alarmed by Israeli airstrikes that targeted multiple locations in Gaza today, resulting in extensive loss of life. Dozens of people were killed – not all of them were militants.

While the Israeli military has said the strikes were a response to the appearance of militants near Rafah yesterday, the scale and timing of the attacks suggest that the Israeli government is not exercising restraint, but instead pursuing an escalation that threatens progress toward the next phase of the ceasefire. These strikes further complicate efforts to bring in an International Stabilization Force – an essential step toward disarming Hamas and enabling the newly appointed technocratic government in Gaza to function.

New Jewish Narrative President and CEO Hadar Susskind said:

“Both Israel’s long-term security and the wellbeing of the people of Gaza, depend on the development of a new Palestinian governing body in Gaza to replace Hamas and on serious investment in reconstruction. The actions taken today by the Israeli government were deeply shortsighted and risk undermining those critical objectives.

“We call on Israeli leaders to halt further military escalation immediately, uphold the ceasefire, recommit to the protection of civilians, and prioritize support for Gaza’s reconstruction and the establishment of a new governing authority.”

Photo Credit: Jaber Jehad Badwan, CC BY-SA 4.0