Sky News analysis on failing Middle East ceasefires
Sky News provides an explanation for why ceasefires in Gaza, Iran, and Lebanon are not leading to lasting peace.
The Full Story
A plain summary built from the channels that reported this story.
President Trump has announced a historic agreement for the complete disarmament of Hamas in Gaza, but the plan has already hit major obstacles. The deal, brokered by his Board of Peace, would see Hamas give up its weapons in exchange for a phased Israeli withdrawal from the territory. Hamas has said it accepts the terms, but only if Israel ends its attacks and withdraws first. Israel, however, has rejected the plan, with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu insisting that his forces will not leave until Hamas is genuinely disarmed.
The ceasefire, which was supposed to bring peace, has been marked by continued Israeli airstrikes and Palestinian casualties. The United Nations reports that more than 1,200 Palestinians have been killed since the ceasefire began last October. The plan, which also includes a pathway to Palestinian statehood, has been dismissed by Netanyahu, who said there will be no Palestinian state while he is in power. The Board of Peace insists the plan is still the only way forward, but with both sides dug in, the prospect of lasting peace remains distant.
The agreement was announced on social media by President Trump, who called it a monumental step towards lasting peace and security. Under the framework, Hamas would hand over its heavy weapons to a new Palestinian authority, and Israeli troops would withdraw in stages. But the sequencing has become a sticking point. Hamas says disarmament cannot begin until Israel pulls out, while Israel says the opposite. The Israeli military currently controls more than 60% of Gaza, and its forces have continued to strike targets despite the ceasefire.
On the ground, the humanitarian situation remains dire. Doctors in Gaza report that the ceasefire has not brought relief. They describe a population living in overcrowded shelters, with limited access to clean water, food, and medical care. The health system has been decimated, and thousands of people are in need of urgent medical evacuation. The ceasefire, they say, has been a mirage.
The political fallout has also been significant. Netanyahu, facing elections in October, has taken a hard line to appease his right-wing base. He has rejected the 15-point plan, saying it would not bring real disarmament. The Board of Peace, however, has said the plan is still viable and that talks are ongoing. But with both sides refusing to budge, the ceasefire remains fragile, and the people of Gaza continue to live under the shadow of war.
On screen
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Key Claims
Claims reported during this story's coverage, mapped by channel. Ordered by how many channels carried each claim.
| Claim | Channel 5 | BBC News | BBC One | Channel 4 | ITV | Sky News |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hamas confirmed it agreed to the deal but insisted that disarmament would not start until Israeli forces fully withdraw from Gaza and attacks cease. | ||||||
| Israeli airstrikes continued despite the ceasefire, with casualties and thousands of violations reported. | ||||||
| President Trump announced an agreement for complete disarmament of Hamas in Gaza. | ||||||
| Israeli media reported that Israel has not yet approved the deal. | · | |||||
| Netanyahu rejected President Trump's peace plan for Gaza. | · | |||||
| Netanyahu said there would be no Palestinian state while he is in office. | · | |||||
| Hamas called for America to pressure Israel to accept the deal. | · | · | · | |||
| Israel and the Board of Peace demanded that Hamas disarm completely, including small weapons, before any ceasefire can proceed. | · | · | · | |||
| Israeli forces now control more than 60% of the territory in Gaza. | · | · | · | |||
| Israeli sources said they will not withdraw from Gaza until Hamas achieves genuine disarmament. | · | · | · | |||
| Trump had previously said Israel was on board with the plan. | · | · | · | |||
| A mass funeral was held in Gaza for 112 people, including 40 children, whose bodies were recovered from a block of flats destroyed by Israeli airstrikes in November 2023; another 157 people are believed to still be under the debris, and an estimated 8,000 people remain under rubble across Gaza. | · | · | · | · |
Channel Perspectives
What each channel focused on, with key quotes.
BBC News focused on the diplomatic details and the sequencing problems of the deal, with analysis from experts and correspondents. It highlighted the gap between the announcement and the reality on the ground, and later covered Israel's rejection in depth.
- “Today, the Board of Peace reached a historic agreement for the complete disarmament of Hamas and all other armed groups in Gaza.”
- “These kinds of sequencing issues, who moves first, have scuttled so many previous attempts to reach a deal.”
- “Israel rejects the 15 points document. The IDF will not execute any withdrawal until Hamas is disarmed.”
Sky News emphasised the fragility of ceasefires, using data and on-the-ground reporting to show that the ceasefire has not stopped violence. It also produced a special explainer on why ceasefires often fail, and later covered the rejection with a focus on the political stalemate.
- “Ceasefires are meant to stop fighting. So why are people still being killed after one is signed?”
- “Trump's announcement his headline It starts to look more aspirational doesn't it than than actual.”
- “The ceasefire is a stalemate.”
5 News provided very brief coverage, simply reporting the announcement and later the rejection without much analysis or context. It focused on the basic facts.
- “US President Donald Trump says an agreement has been reached for the complete disarmament of Hamas in Gaza.”
- “Israel has yet to respond.”
BBC ONE West focused on the human cost of the conflict and the deep mistrust between the two sides. It included interviews with Palestinians and Israelis, and highlighted that the ceasefire has not brought peace.
- “There may have been a ceasefire in Gaza, but it has not brought peace.”
- “Mistrust is found on both sides.”
- “Israel rejects the 15 points document.”
Channel 4 provided detailed reporting on the plan's contents and the political dynamics, including interviews with a doctor in Gaza and an Israeli journalist. It stressed that the ceasefire has not brought peace and that the plan is now in doubt.
- “The ceasefire never brought anything like peace to Gaza.”
- “Israel rejects the 15-point plan.”
- “The reality is that there is no ceasefire here in Gaza.”
ITV1 focused on the political implications of the rejection, particularly Netanyahu's election concerns and the impact on Trump's credibility. It also highlighted the ongoing humanitarian crisis, describing the ceasefire as a mirage.
- “This has never been a true ceasefire.”
- “It is a major blow to Washington's ceasefire negotiations.”
- “Israel rejects the 15-point plan.”
Broadcast Timeline
News broadcasts tracked for this story, in time order.