Gaza ceasefire: a faint glimmer of hope

LThe situation in Gaza continues to deteriorate, plunging the region into an abyss of suffering and desolation. On Tuesday, May 7, the Israeli military carried out intense bombing raids on Rafah, causing numerous deaths and injuries. In total, according to Hamas’ Ministry of Health, 34,789 people have been killed in the Gaza Strip since the start of this brutal war between Israel and Hamas. The number of injured in the thousands, forever marked by the horrors of violence.

These strikes exacerbated an already critical situation, prompting strong international concern and urgent calls for de-escalation. And the human toll will inevitably increase with this offensive carried out by the Israeli army in Rafah, which continues its massacres and has turned this already destroyed city into a field of ruins and mourning. The United Nations has emphasized the urgency of the situation, warning of the devastating humanitarian consequences of the ground offensive in Rafah.

China, through its foreign ministry, called on Israel to end its attacks on Rafah and work to avoid an even bigger humanitarian crisis in the region. These interventions underscore the importance of concerted action by the international community to end the violence and find lasting solutions to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Except that the international community seems silent and powerless in the face of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s determination to rid Gaza of Gaza.

And no one can make him listen to reason. Not even his staunch ally, Joe Biden, the US president. The only hope for Gazans: the cease-fire talks that began in Cairo on Tuesday, which must be backed by a firm commitment from all parties involved to respect the basic rights of civilians and work towards a lasting peace. On Wednesday, while IS was still bombing Rafah, talks continued with the delegations of Hamas and Israel, as well as Qatar and the United States, countries that, along with Egypt, play a mediatory role.

But the differences between Hamas and Israel are such that it is very difficult to reach a permanent ceasefire agreement. Yet a ceasefire is not only necessary, it is vital to ending this endless cycle of violence and saving lives.

Author: FZ Ouriaghli