The Israel-Gaza Ceasefire: A Solution Failing to Solve All Problems
Written by Maelyn Eversole
The Ceasefire, ushered in under the Trump administration, is advancing as the first round of hostages return to their families. People in the region are celebrating this small victory, attempting to rebuild a society crushed by conflict. In light of this, the tensions felt between the terrorist group Hamas and the Israeli military still remain prevalent. Foreign eyes are set on the two opposing sides, nervous to see whether the agreement reached under negotiations led by the U.S., Qatar, and Egypt will hold strong. Meanwhile, domestic unrest surrounding the decisions being made by President Netanyahu has become a spectacle. The Israeli state is divided, some believe that this deal is a loss for Israel and a waste of the 470 days spent at war, not to mention the high number of casualties that occurred, while others took to the streets to protest a government that wasn’t prioritizing the safety of its citizens taken by the terrorist group.
The Israeli government set high goals for themselves: demolish Hamas and secure hostage returns. However, one could not be achieved without the sacrifice of the other. The Israeli government seceded territories and squandered years of conflicts and casualties to ensure the return of the remaining hostages. While no one is arguing that the return of these hostages to their families and loved ones is a bad thing, this short-term victory is not capable of sustaining a long term ceasefire and lasting peace.
A Breakdown of the Ceasefire Deal:
The ceasefire deal was constructed under former President Biden and implemented under President Trump. Many sources believed Israel’s compliance is a by-product of President Trump’s high threat of force. The Ceasefire deal is threefold, the first portion lasting 42 days. Over this period 33 hostages, currently held by Hamas, and 1900 Palestinian prisoners will be released and returned.
As this occurs, Israeli forces will fall back from populated areas in Gaza to the Israel-Gaza border (no longer cutting off northern Gaza from its southern counterpart). Phase Two of the ceasefire will occur 16 days after the start of Phase One, resulting in further negotiations to fabricate a long-term ceasefire and the release of all remaining hostages. Lastly, after this second portion is reached, all the corpses will be returned to their families for burial, all Israeli forces will be withdrawn and the reconstruction of Gaza will commence. This reconstruction is a project that could take decades to complete, due to the vast amount of destruction Gaza underwent.
Notable Aspects:
Something to note about the components of this ceasefire is that Israel is holding strong against specific individuals being released. They decreed that “prisoners” mentioned in the deal do not include Gazans convicted for security offenses. Therefore, anyone involved in the October 7th attacks will not be set free.
The Violence is Not Over:
Gazans who were forced to evacuate during the Israeli military strikes are free to return home. However, widespread destruction has left Palestinians, numbering in the millions, to be displaced. In light of this fact, this group’s upcoming trek home is a dangerous expedition. Israeli forces and Hamas forces are in an intense stand-off, resulting in Israel warning their released prisoners to “stay clear of military positions.” Israel is also reportedly shifting their focus and violent intentions to the West Bank, telling the world that they are not yet satisfied.
The ceasefire deal reached by Israel and Hamas is indeed a victory. However, this victory is likely to be fleeting. Israeli President Netanyahu’s compliance can be attributed to the Trump administration’s compulsion and the public’s intensifying pressure due to the ongoing hostage crisis. Adding to the harsh situation, Hamas was willing to act on its threats as Israel escalated military operations. The extensive tensions and history between these two groups leaves little hope that this ceasefire will result in a peace deal. It seems unlikely that Israel will sit back and take this loss, particularly as they are being forced to negotiate with terrorists.
