Even as Palestinians in Gaza endure daily Israeli violations of a fragile ceasefire, Washington is pressing ahead with a political track aimed at normalizing relations between Saudi Arabia and "Israel," hinging on a US-designed post-war order for the devastated Strip.

According to an Axios report citing US officials, US President Donald Trump told Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (MBS) in a phone call last month that, with a ceasefire now in place in Gaza, he expects Riyadh to move forward on formal ties with "Israel." The call precedes a planned Trump-MBS meeting at the White House, where Washington hopes to showcase progress on normalization as a diplomatic achievement. 

US officials have signaled to the Saudis that Washington believes it has largely met Riyadh’s demands, including a defense pact and security guarantees, and now wants movement on normalization.

As one senior US official put it: "Our message to the Saudis is: 'We did all the things you asked for. Now, there are things President Trump wants, like normalization with Israel. So how are you guys going to move now in this direction?'"

Saudi Arabia has repeatedly stated that any deal must include a credible pathway to Palestinian statehood. But on the ground in Gaza, Palestinians see little evidence of genuine de-escalation or of a political vision centered on their rights.

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A ceasefire on paper, a war for Palestinians in practice

A US-brokered ceasefire between "Israel" and Hamas formally took effect on October 10, 2025, after nearly two years of relentless Israeli attacks that killed more than 69,000 Palestinians and flattened large parts of Gaza.

While the agreement was sold as a turning point, with Israeli forces beginning a partial pullback from some areas of Gaza and a large prisoner exchange, "Israel" has continued to strike the enclave, drawing accusations from Palestinians that the war has simply shifted form rather than ended. 

Data from Gaza’s Government Media Office and humanitarian reporting show a pattern of systematic Israeli breaches since the ceasefire came into force:

• By October 18, Gaza authorities recorded 47 violations, including shelling, shootings, and arrests, which killed 38 Palestinians and wounded 143 others. 
• By November 2, officials reported 194 ceasefire violations by the Israeli army, including drone strikes and artillery fire.
• By November 10,  at least 282 violations between October 10 and November 10 were reported - “near-daily attacks” that killed hundreds of Palestinians during what is nominally a truce.

Over the same period, the Gaza death toll climbed to more than 69,000 killed and over 170,000 wounded, underscoring that for civilians, the distinction between “war” and “ceasefire” is largely metaphorical. 

Observers have argued that Washington’s rush to package the situation as a post-war environment suitable for grand diplomatic gestures, including normalization and mega-projects like “New Gaza”, appears profoundly disconnected from the ongoing reality of bombardments, displacement, and famine conditions.

Read more: 'Two-state solution' dead, Palestine faces existential fight: Al-Taher