From Hope to Hollow Gesture: The Fragile Nature of the Ceasefire has now become nothing but Child’s Play to the Israeli Leaders

On January 15th, 2025, the long-awaited announcement finally came - Israeli and Hamas negotiators had reached a ceasefire agreement. Al Jazeera reporter emphasised that the ceasefire, which is to begin on January 19th, 2025, is “466 days too late”, which during the brutal conflict, a staggering “46,000 people had been killed” in this "senseless war." The pain and suffering inflicted on the Palestinian people had been immense. Still, on social media, there were scenes of joy and celebration from the Palestinian community and from all over the world. Children were jumping for joy, their hope finally restored after years of violence and occupation. Even a reporter - Al Jazeera journalist Anas Al-Sharif - covering the story seen on TikTok, who had worn a protective vest during the conflict, was able to take it off as the ceasefire took hold.

While doubts and scepticism lingered for me about whether this ceasefire would truly hold, there was a palpable sense of relief that the massacres had finally come to an end. The road to lasting peace remained long and uncertain, but this ceasefire represented a crucial first step. Now the hard work of reconciliation and addressing the root causes of the conflict would need to begin in earnest. So the people hoped.

However, the initial optimism surrounding the ceasefire announcement quickly gave way to a devastating reality. Today, I woke up to a barrage of notifications on my phone - despite the ceasefire agreement being in place, the violence has continued unabated. According to reports from Anadolu Agency, in the last 24 hours alone, “71 Palestinians have been killed, including 24 women and 19 children. Over 200 more have been injured in these ongoing Israeli attacks.”

This brutality, coming directly on the heels of the much-touted ceasefire deal, is a bitter blow. The promises of peace and an end to the massacre ring hollow as the killing persists. The Palestinian people, and the pro-Palestinians all over the world, who had hoped for an end to the violence for the people of Gaza, are now facing the crushing disappointment of yet another betrayal. This turn of events underscores the fragility of the ceasefire and the deep-seated mistrust from the Israeli and the U.S. government, and whilst this is deeply disheartening, I cannot say I am also shocked by this development either. However, though the agreement was that the ceasefire would be enacted from Sunday, Othman Moqbel, CEO of Action for Humanity, quoted by Al Jazeera news, highlighted that until then it “does not give Israel a blank cheque to commit as many war crimes as possible.”

Furthermore, in today’s press conference quoted by the Guardian News, President Biden proudly announced that the ceasefire agreement was developed and negotiated by his administration's team and would be primarily implemented by the incoming government. He praised the efforts of his diplomatic corps, wistfully invoking the biblical passage that "blessed are the peacemakers." However, despite Biden's ever-so-optimistic rhetoric, esteemed leaders, who were quick to congratulate his 'diplomatic team' for their masterful negotiation skills - a devastating reversal has occurred.

The ceasefire that is scheduled to begin on Sunday has now been pushed back, with Israel accusing Hamas of backtracking on the agreement. Media reports, for example, Al Jazeera, have confirmed that the ceasefire deal was met with premature celebrations, as the talks – mainly from Israel- are still in deliberations, pushing the fragile region back into uncertainty. Despite initial optimism and premature celebrations, Turkish President Erdogan condemned Israel's actions, demanding that the "world must fulfil its legal and moral responsibilities towards Gazans."

However, Israel's far-right government has responded with defiance, throwing a tantrum, and behaving like spoilt brats, National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir has threatened to quit over the Gaza deal, slamming it as "reckless" and calling for a complete halt to humanitarian aid to the region. As a result, the Israeli Cabinet has descended into chaos, delaying voting, and further jeopardising the prospect of a peaceful resolution. Amidst the political turmoil, the Palestinian people continue to bear the brunt of the violence. Lives are at risk, with reports of ongoing attacks and casualties.

At this point, although the ceasefire agreement – Phase One: the hostage and prisoner exchange has been finalised – the ceasefire agreement still seems about as sturdy as a house of cards. One cannot help but wonder if Biden's effusive rhetoric, despite the disappointing outcome, was more about political posturing than substantive diplomatic progress.