Waffenruhe in the Gaza War: Hope for peace or illusory dream?

Waffenruhe in the Gaza War: Hope for peace or illusory dream?

The conflict between Israel and Hamas has left devastating consequences in the Gaza Strip. The fights have been ongoing for over a year, in which, according to different reports, tens of thousands of people were killed. The area is largely destroyed and the humanitarian situation is catastrophic. More than 90% of the population suffers from hunger, while around 600 trucks with relief goods are available to get to Gaza. In an environment of this crisis, the USA, Egypt and Qatar have worked on a ceasefire for months, which has now been implemented in the form of an agreement.

The agreement initially provides for a fire break of six weeks, which is due to come into force on January 19, 2025. During this time, 33 hostages, which were abducted to Israel on October 7, 2023, will be released. According to Israeli information, 1,210 people were killed on this day, and Hamas took more than 250 hostages, 94 of which are still said to be in the Gaza Strip. However, the conditions of the ceasefire remain critical [by many as brittle, since there is deep distrust between the parties to the conflict.

The details of the agreement

In the first six weeks of the ceasefire, three hostages are to be released weekly, followed by 14 hostages last week. Women, children and older people form the first group of hostages to be released. It is also planned that the Israeli military gradually withdraw from the Gaza Strip. Israel has stipulated that it will release 30 Palestinian prisoners for every civilian hostage, while the release of an Israeli soldier has 50 Palestinian prisoners. Hamas has the risk that many hostages that were being dragged on October 7 will no longer live.

The health authority controlled by the Hamas reports of over 46,700 deaths in the Gaza Strip since the attack. Within this destructive dynamic it was found that the reputation of Israel has suffered in many parts of the world. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is under pressure because he is accused of having abandoned the remaining hostages. The internal division of Israeli society was reinforced by the events on October 7th.

stability and hope

While the civilian population in the Gaza Strip hopes for a relief of their need, the stability and the long -term durability of the agreement are questionable. According to critics, the fights could quickly arise if the fights are flare up if the mutual distrust should not be reduced. The outgoing US Secretary of State Antony also flashing a plan for the future of the Gaza Strip, which, however, may need a new evaluation under the influence of changing power in Washington.

Jubilee screams accompanied the news of the agreement in both Israel and the Gaza Strip. The negotiations were intensively managed by Qatar, the USA and Egypt, starting with the resumption of the talks in early January 2025. However, it remains uncertain whether this break can lead to a permanent ceasefire, because the solidified hurdles in German and international context, with regard to the approval of the deal by the Israeli Parliament, are complex. One dispute could be the coordination of humanitarian aid and the return of people in the Gaza Strip who continue to suffer from the consequences of the war.

It remains to be seen whether the ceasefire, which has been the first of this kind in over a year, can actually lead to a positive turn in conflict and whether it can bring the urgently needed help to the people on site.

Radio Herford reports that ...

ZDF emphasizes that ...

Tagesschau added that ...