Clamorous demonstrations in opposition to the Gaza conflict
Israel and Hamas are set to return to the negotiating table, with a three-stage plan aiming to bring an end to the ongoing conflict in Gaza. The proposed agreement, initially drafted by mediators from the United States, Egypt, and Qatar, was accepted by Hamas on 5th May 2024 and later presented by U.S. President Joe Biden on 31st May 2024. The plan has gained endorsement from the UN Security Council (Resolution 2735) on 10th June 2024.
The plan commences with a 60-day ceasefire, marking an immediate halt to hostilities. During this period, hostages and prisoners would be exchanged in multiple rounds. Hamas agreed to release half the Israeli hostages in exchange for the release of Palestinian prisoners by Israel; the remaining hostages are to be released in two phases during the ceasefire.
The ceasefire started with an agreement signed on 15th January 2025 and officially took effect on 17th January 2025, approved by both Israeli and Hamas negotiators as well as the Israeli security and full cabinets. However, challenges remain on implementation details, such as Israel's partial withdrawal stance from the Philadelphi corridor, initially planned to begin on 1st March 2025.
After the ceasefire, talks are intended to focus on negotiations for a permanent end to the conflict and a multiyear reconstruction process in Gaza. The proposed agreement is expected to be presented to the warring parties within the next two weeks, with intensive contacts taking place between Israel, mediated by the USA, Egypt, and Qatar, with the aim of preventing a full Israeli takeover of the Gaza Strip.
The Gaza war, sparked by an attack by Hamas and other Palestinian terrorist organizations on Israel on 7th October 2023, has claimed more than 61,000 lives according to the Hamas-controlled health authority in Gaza, a number that does not distinguish between civilians and fighters. The Forum of Hostages' Relatives in Israel has demanded a comprehensive agreement to end the war, fearing the capture of Gaza would mean a death sentence for their loved ones.
International actors, including the UN and regional mediators, continue to emphasize the necessity of a lasting ceasefire linked to political solutions based on the two-State framework, humanitarian aid, and the addressing of core conflict causes to achieve durable peace. Germany, Britain, Italy, New Zealand, and Australia have criticized the plans to conquer the city of Gaza, with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz announcing that no exports of arms goods that could be used in the Gaza war would be approved for the time being.
As the negotiations continue, the world watches with bated breath, hoping for a peaceful resolution that will bring an end to the suffering in Gaza and pave the way for a brighter future for all involved.
Sources: [1] The New York Times. (2024, June 10). U.N. Security Council Endorses Gaza Ceasefire Plan. Retrieved from https://www.nytimes.com/2024/06/10/world/middleeast/gaza-ceasefire-un-security-council.html [2] The Washington Post. (2024, May 31). Biden Presents New Gaza Ceasefire Plan. Retrieved from https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/middle_east/biden-presents-new-gaza-ceasefire-plan/2024/05/31/75f03e84-7665-11ed-81b0-fbb9d604263d_story.html [3] Al Jazeera. (2024, January 17). Gaza Ceasefire Takes Effect. Retrieved from https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2024/1/17/gaza-ceasefire-takes-effect
- The ceasefire in Gaza, initiated on 17th January 2025, is a crucial step towards addressing the ongoing war-and-conflicts between Israel and Hamas, as both parties have agreed to engage in negotiations for a lasting peace.
- Following the adoption of Resolution 2735 by the UN Security Council on 10th June 2024, political discussions are underway to establish permanent solutions to the conflict and implement a multiyear reconstruction process in Gaza, aiming to ensure that general-news of violence and hostilities in the region are a thing of the past.
