Continuing Coverage: Developments in the Israel-Hamas Conflict
After my last article, published on November 20, I decided to write a follow-up story and update the readers on what has unfolded since October 7, 2023. I would like the readers to continue to keep an open mind to the multiple facets of this follow-up article, knowing that this complex situation is still evolving each day.
After weeks of conflict and negotiations, Israel and Hamas agreed on Wednesday, November 22, 2023, to a “temporary ceasefire” that would enable the release of at least 50 women and children held hostage in Gaza (New York Times). In exchange, Israel stopped hostilities for four days and released 150 Palestinian women and children who were held hostage in Israeli prisons. That was the plan. The “temporary ceasefire” began on Friday, November 24, and ended on Friday, December 1. According to CNN, Israel released three imprisoned Palestinians for every Israeli hostage allowed to leave Gaza. The framework saw 80 Israelis, some of whom hold dual citizenship, released from captivity. By December 1, Israel had released 240 Palestinians, mainly women and minors, many of whom had been detained but never charged. Additionally, several foreign nationals, 23 Thai citizens, 1 Filipino, and 1 dual Israeli-Russian citizen were freed from negotiations outside the truce.
Amidst these events, a common question arises; does it make sense to refer to this period as a humanitarian pause or a ceasefire? The distinction is crucial to the crisis in Israel and Gaza; however, just like many people, world leaders are also confused. Recently, Canadian Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau was asked about his support for a cease-fire in the Israel-Hamas conflict. In a video circulated online, Trudeau seemed unsure which one he supported: “We need to see a cease — we need to see a humanitarian pause so we can flow — we need ceasing of the levels of violence that we’re seeing,” Trudeau said. According to the New York Times, The United States and several other nations, including members of the Group of 7 in a joint statement on Wednesday, November 8th, are instead urging Israel’s government to agree to much shorter “pauses.” Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said last week that “calls for a cease-fire are calls for Israel to surrender to Hamas, to surrender to terrorism.” But he has recently suggested an openness to brief “tactical pauses.” According to The Practical Guide to Humanitarian Law, a ceasefire is defined as an agreement that regulates the cessation of all military activity for a given length of time in a given area. It may be declared unilaterally, or it may be negotiated between parties to a conflict. Even United States President, Joe Biden, was also confused about the terminology. However, President Biden stated that he favored a “pause” in the fighting, saying that it “means giving time to get the prisoners out” — in another reference to the more than 200 hostages held by Hamas in Gaza, several of whom are believed to be Americans.
According to The Guardian, The Hamas-run Ministry of Health said that 178 ( check this number) Palestinians had been killed and 589 wounded in Gaza since Israel resumed bombing on Friday morning, December 1st, with most casualties being women and children. For context, Gaza is home to almost 2 million people, roughly half of whom are under the age of 18, and one million are women. Sirens also went off repeatedly in southern Israel, starting before the pause expired at 7 am, and continuing throughout the day as Hamas resumed a campaign of rocket attacks. Israel claims Hamas had broken the truce and could not be renewed because the group had failed to offer to release the remaining female hostages in Gaza. Eylon Levy, an official Israeli government spokesperson, said: “Having chosen to hold on to our women, Hamas will now take the mother of all thumpings.” Limited humanitarian aid has gone into Gaza, as food, water, and medicines remain desperately short.
Israel’s military expressed “deep remorse” on Friday, December 1, after announcing that it had accidentally killed three Israelis held hostages in the Gaza Strip during fighting in the enclave. The Israel Defense Forces said that the incident occurred on Friday when its soldiers “mistakenly identified” the Israelis as a threat during combat in Shejaiya, and opened fire on them. According to ABC News, Israelis were left stunned and speechless when they learned the three hostages were killed after they waved a white flag and screamed out in Hebrew to show they did not pose a threat. “The IDF expresses deep remorse over the tragic incident and sends the families its heartfelt condolences,” the military said in a statement. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called the killing of the three men “an unbearable tragedy”. Overall, more than 1.7 million people have been displaced in Gaza, where health officials say the death toll has surpassed 100,000. After weeks of Israeli attacks. The Israel Defense Forces estimates 1,200 people were killed in the October 7 Hamas attack, with around 160 hostages still being held captive in Gaza.
According to Time Magazine, The U.S. is facing criticism from the Palestinian Authority which governs the West Bank, and other global leaders and organizations, after it vetoed a U.N. Security Council resolution calling for an immediate ceasefire in the Israel-Hamas war. The security council held an emergency meeting on Friday after U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres invoked Article 99, a rare move to force a vote on the deteriorating humanitarian situation in Gaza, where two million people are displaced. The Hamas-run health ministry says 25,000 people have been killed under an Israeli campaign to eliminate the militant group after its Oct. 7 attack that killed 1,200 people and took an estimated 240 hostage. More than 100 remain in captivity. The U.S. vetoed a resolution calling for a ceasefire put forward by the United Arab Emirates and backed by more than 90 Member States at a meeting in New York City. Compared to 13 council members’ votes in favor, the U.S. was the sole veto. The U.K. and Canada abstained.
As the war is still ongoing, we can all agree that many questions remain unanswered. Will Israel submit to the global pressures and reach a cease-fire agreement or will they fight until they decide when it’s time to stop? How will the United States respond to ensure this region becomes stable? Israel Prime Minister Netanyahu’s stance on a ceasefire is clear and left no space for ambiguity in a recent statement released at the Ramon Air Force base in southern Israel. “There will be no ceasefire without the return of the hostages. This should be completely removed from the lexicon,” He further emphasized his message, stating, “We say this to our friends and to our enemies”. Benjamin Netanyahu additionally says that Israel will continue its war against Hamas, even if a temporary cease-fire is reached with the Islamic militant group to release hostages.
You may want to suggest why Netanyahu is resisting the cease-fire. It is unclear how this war will end but it is very evident that instability and continuous conflict will have an impact well beyond Israel and Palestine. We all have a stake in seeing this war end.