By Rabi Raj Thapa
The word ceasefire is not a new term to the Nepalese people. Nepal went through three ceasefires during ten years of armed conflict that killed around seventeen thousand Nepalese with a large number of injured, disabled and disappeared to date. Compare this to the harrowing toll of one-hundred-forty-nine Palestinians per day since Hamas’s Attack on Israel on October 7, 2023. In total, there have been 37,626 Palestinian deaths including 21,000 children which make up 40 percent of the total fatalities. Similarly, the number of injured in the eight months of the Gaza war was 86,098 which means an average of 341 people per day. It means each additional day of conflict may cause 150 deaths and 341 Palestinian injuries every day. Besides, the Gaza war has taken the lives of 1,139 Israeli soldiers and at least 8,730 civilians injuring 120 hostages still under Hamas captivity.
For nine long months, there have been unaccountable meetings and shuttle diplomatic efforts along with the United Nations Security Council and UN General Assembly to restore at least a ceasefire if not the permanent settlement and cessation of war.
In the past, the United States was widely criticized for having blocked several earlier ceasefire resolutions calling for a halt to the fighting in Gaza. When President Joe Biden launched a new push for a ceasefire and a US representative to the UN Security Council asked to vote on a draft resolution to urge Hamas to accept the ceasefire and release the hostage, which was taken as a diplomatic victory by all UN members and the world community at large.
However, in the same meeting, Israel commented, “Israel will not engage in meaningless and endless negotiations which can be exploited by Hamas!” and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s confusing comment that he would not adhere to a complete ceasefire but a partial deal has again stalled the implementation of the ceasefire till date.
Since the beginning of the conflict, several such gimmicks of ceasefire have become mockeries of humankind and the peace-loving international community as a whole. That means the silence of guns and the suffering of Palestinians and families of the Hostages still looks far away.
Today, the ceasefire in Gaza looks like a maze with many turns and many dead ends. There are difficult and divergent demands and ideas, actors and activities.
The situation deteriorated to the point of demanding resignation from the UN Secretary-General Antonio Gutierrez and the shredding of the UN Charter during the meeting was an insult and injury to the image and prestige of the United Nations.
On the other side, when IDF declared a partial ceasefire on humanitarian relief operations, it surprised the world with appreciation but shocked warmongers like Benjamin Netanyahu and his War Cabinet members. IDF with guns in hand and military uniform showing human sensitivity to the suffering of Palestinians was praiseworthy.
While Hamas is still in dilemma, Hezbollah has declared its readiness for an unrestricted unlimited war. Israel’s well-wisher and friend German Foreign Minister Annalena Bearbock got concerned and commented on her Israel visit, “Images of Gaza sparked strong emotions in the Arab world, Europe, America and Israel’s anger is not helping Israel to meet its security needs. On the contrary, that could help Hamas to garner support and sympathy to provoke and escalate war”.
Maybe Israel needs to show to live up to its democratic values and respect international human rights laws. Otherwise, it could prove to be a “Penny wise-pound Foolish” move to Israel and all nations who have been supporting it unconditionally. It is dangerous to have more trust and confidence in guns and bombs than a heart and mind with compassion, care and concern for the human being whether Israeli or Palestinian.
Still let’s hope and pray “Better Late, Than Never”.
The views expressed in this article are the author’s own and do not necessarily reflect People’s Review’s editorial stance.
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