article by Sianna Zewdie (Y11)
This article is based on personal beliefs and does in no way reflect the opinions of Ecolint as a whole.
As I hope many of you have recently found out, after 15 months of strenuous diplomatic negotiations and discussions, Israel and Hamas have finally reached a ceasefire deal. This new agreement offers Israelis and Palestinians alike an end to a conflict that has been ravaging their countries for generations.
Relations between Israel and Palestine have been strained for decades and is considered one of history’s longest and most violent disputes over territory, borders, and rights. Tensions began to rise after World War One, when Palestine, under the control of the British, was said to be a ‘national home’ for Jewish people by the UK. While Jews had historical claims to the land, the latter also had close ties to Palestine, and thus they did not support this move. As more and more Jews fled the persecution in Europe, the UN voted to split the territory into Jewish and Arab states, and Israel was declared independent. Since then, numerous wars, disputes, and attacks have plagued the region as both sides continue to assert their claims over the land. The situation has been complicated further by international involvement, shifting political alliances, and deep-seated religious and cultural divisions.
On October 7th, 2023, Hamas had made headlines for its attack on Israel from Gaza, killing around 1200 people and taking over 250 hostages. Israel retaliated by launching a military offensive in Gaza, occupying the territory and killing over 46000 Palestinians—most of whom were women and children.
Thus, this new ceasefire deal, which will begin Sunday, January 19th, 2025, will ensure the withdrawal of Israeli military operations in Gaza, the safe return of hostages to their families, and a flood of humanitarian aid to Palestinian civilians. While the arrangement has been confirmed by US and Qatari offices, Benjamin Netanyahu has yet to do so, claiming that there are still some details to be sorted out. They contend that Hamas has tried to go back on the deal “to extort last-minute concessions.”
Once sorted out, the deal will proceed in three stages:
First Stage
The first stage will last six weeks and will result in a “complete ceasefire”, including the release of hostages (33 to be exact, according to Al Thani of Qatar). Three hostages will be released immediately, with the rest being freed over the next six weeks. Israel would also pull out of all populated regions of Gaza, allowing Palestinians to return to their homes and receive the humanitarian aid being delivered to them from other countries.
Second Stage
According to President Biden, stage two calls for “a permanent end to the war.” Palestinian prisoners, except for those convicted of murder, would be returned in exchange for other living hostages, and Israeli troops would fully withdraw from Gaza.
Third Stage
The final stage of the deal would be to return any remaining hostages’ bodies, as well as the rebuilding of Gaza, a project that could take years.
So who do we have to thank? Well, Egyptian and Qatari governments along with both current president Joe Biden and president-elect Donald Trump have claimed credit for this diplomatic feat. While Biden’s administration is largely to thank for carrying this out, it will be up to Trump’s administration to navigate us and the people involved through this conflict to peaceful coexistence. Of course, ought to appreciate all the diplomats working tirelessly on behalf of the countries involved, having managed to bring some much-needed order and stability into this region. While this deal may be in its preliminary stages, it offers a glimmer of hope and a reminder that, despite our conflicts, we are all still striving for the same goal: peace.
If the author reads this I would encourage you to take the next step in championing the voice of the oppressed Palestinians who have experienced the worlds first fully televised genocide. Language and opinions that serve the international ruling class, such as crediting American politicians and negotiators, does a disservice to the reality experienced by Palestinians in Gaza. The voice of the unheard should be the priority of any journalistic piece. There is also a failure to mention the atrocities Israel has perpetuated and continues to perpetuate against an entire population. If those guiding your research at school aren’t emphasising the importance of unrestrained criticism of the Israeli regime then I suggest you ignore their advice, as it is clearly misguided. Solidarity