After many months of war, there has finally been a negotiation for a ceasefire in Gaza.
As part of the ceasefire deal, arranged by the International Committee of the Red Cross, Israeli forces have started to remove themselves from the Netzarim corridor of Gaza, allowing people to move between the northern and southern regions. The people of Gaza have endured continuous bombings, food and water shortages, and destruction of their homes, while the rest of the world just sat back and watched. Even though the ceasefire is taking place, violence in Gaza hasn’t necessarily come to a complete close. Israeli forces continue to attack Palestinians in the West Bank, where two Palestinian women were recently shot and killed. The Israeli government claims that they were attempting to dismantle “militant infrastructure.” However, the reality is that more innocent Palestinians continue to die, and there is no guarantee that Israel will not restart their military campaign if they choose to ignore the ceasefire deal.
This war didn’t start in 2023, it is part of a much bigger conflict that has been going on for decades. This conflict dates back to 1948 when Israel was established on Palestinian land. The United Nations suggested splitting Palestine into separate states, one for Jewish people and the other for Arabs. After Israel declared its independence, neighboring Arab states attempted to intervene, however, Israel not only defended itself but also expanded its land. This led to the forced displacement of around 750,000 Palestinians in what is now known as Nakba (“catastrophe” in Arabic). Families were driven away from their homes, and people became refugees overnight, with no right to go back. In the many years that followed, Israel continued to tighten its grip on Palestine, by occupying Palestinian territories, restricting movements, and launching military campaigns that caused the deaths of thousands of people. Gaza, in particular, has been stuck under a brutal blockade, making it difficult to get basic supplies like food, water, and medical supplies. For generations, Palestinians have been living under constant oppression, facing constant attacks and displacement, while international responses have varied in effectiveness and engagement.
The ceasefire led Hamas to release hostages, some who were taken during the October 2023 attack, and others who were being held from before 2023. In return for the hostages, Israel was meant to release 620 Palestinian prisoners, but they are delaying the process. Israel has postponed the release of the prisoners, partly because of security concerns. As a result, tensions remain high, and there is a lot of pressure on both sides as the ceasefire negotiations continue. At the same time, leaders are talking in Qatar, but leaders are mainly focused on Israel’s safety instead of helping the people in Gaza. Even with the ceasefire going on, no one knows what will happen next, and Palestinians are still struggling while world leaders decide what they are going to do.
In a press conference released by BBC News, with President Donald Trump and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, President Donald Trump talks about how “the U.S will take over the Gaza Strip and we will do a job with it, so we’ll own it and be responsible for dismantling all of the dangerous unexploded bombs and other weapons on the site. However, it is currently unknown if this idea of his is legal. Egypt and Jordan have both rejected this idea, saying that Gaza should just be rebuilt without forcing Palestinians to leave. The United Nations is concerned that this plan could lead to ethnic cleansing by forcefully removing a large population from their homeland. While most nations disagree with this idea. Defense Minister Israel Katz has directed the military to prepare for voluntary Palestinian emigration, offering exit routes via land, sea, and air.
The situation in Gaza is far from over, and even though the ceasefire offers a brief pause, it doesn’t solve the main issues of territorial disputes and humanitarian crises. Palestinians are still struggling, actual change is out of reach for Palestinians. With leaders more focused on different priorities such as Israel’s security and Palestinian leadership’s divisions, leaving the people of Gaza no idea for the future, the situation remains undetermined for those caught in the middle of the conflict. The hope for lasting peace feels distant, and for now, the people of Gaza are left waiting for a change that may never come.
