‘40 days of war, no gains’ — Israelis slam Iran ceasefire

A newly announced two-week ceasefire in the ongoing war between Israel and Iran has been met with deep skepticism among the Israelis.

Many of them said the pause in the fighting offered little reassurance after weeks of sustained attacks.

In Tel Aviv, residents expressed frustration and fatigue following more than a month of conflict.

“Forty days of war and we’re back to square one,” said a 34-year-old man on Wednesday.

He reflected the sentiment shared by others who believe the military campaign has yielded few tangible results since Israeli and U.S. strikes on Iran began on Feb. 28.

In spite of the ceasefire announcement, tensions remained high overnight as Iran continued launching rockets toward Israel.

In parts of Tel Aviv, including municipal bunkers, some residents were still sheltering into the morning, sleeping on mattresses after another night of sirens and bombardment.

For more than five weeks, civilians across Israel have repeatedly sought refuge from attacks not only by Iran, but also by the Iran-backed Hezbollah militia in Lebanon.

Recently, the Houthi movement in Yemen, also aligned with Tehran, resumed rocket fire, further heightening anxiety among the population.

The prolonged conflict has taken a visible toll.

Many Israelis report exhaustion from the relentless cycle of daytime alerts and nighttime strikes, with little sense of stability even amid talk of a temporary truce.

Tamar, a 65-year-old resident, said she hoped for an end to the fighting but remained doubtful that the ceasefire would lead to meaningful progress.

“The negotiations aimed at securing a lasting resolution are expected to begin soon, but I have little confidence in their outcome.

“I don’t think there will be a breakthrough. After two weeks, the war will resume,” she said.

As diplomatic efforts get underway, the prevailing mood in Israel, for many, suggests that the ceasefire is less as a step toward peace and more as a brief pause in an uncertain ongoing conflict. (dpa/NAN