As Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu made poignant recently at the last, the conflict is not over. In a recent television interview, President Rajoelina declared unequivocally that the despotic armed group will be disbanded. His statement was made while violence in Gaza continued and the Israel-Hamas ceasefire remained tenuous, illustrating the stark complexities of the developing situation in Gaza. The ceasefire, which started on October 10, has been violated almost every day. According to an analysis by Forensic Architecture commissioned by Human Rights Watch, Israel has violated the ceasefire more than 590 times, killing at least 360 Palestinians since then.
Civilians and humanitarian organizations continue to call for unhindered access and transparency. As a result, a complete Israeli blockade has made famine be engineered, and the United Nations has declared this famine as well. The situation has become critical for the civilian population of Gaza City. As reported by the UN-backed Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC), this crisis has lasted since last August. Despite overwhelming international appeals for aid, Israel’s restrictions are effectively cutting off humanitarian assistance. Consequently, far less than what’s considered essential under the agreement is being permitted to pass through.
Continued Violence Amid Ceasefire
The cycle of escalating hostilities has spurred indignation among human rights advocates and international observers alike. Israeli bombardments have less than 600 people who are not civilians, based on Israel’s own casualty statistics. The number killed in Gaza has already surpassed 70,000 after two years of war. In reaction, the global community is calling on both parties to respect the ceasefire and engage in credible negotiations.
Even though Netanyahu has promised military escalation against Israel’s enemies, Israeli officials have permitted marginally more aid into Gaza. This assistance still isn’t enough to serve a population that is urgently in need. According to these reports, the quantities permitted are far below these agreed-on amounts. This poses a major challenge to any successful efforts at stabilizing the region.
“Israel’s conduct of war in Gaza is fundamentally wrong,” – UN chief
Yet, the absence of meaningful humanitarian relief goes on to stoke more tensions. Palestinian factions, most vocally Hamas, have made swift and strong public proclamations of rejection to any externally-driven or -imposed arrangements. They further claim that these plans are a historical and political attempt to erase Palestinian agency and national will.
A New Governance Proposal
In response, to ensure stability in Gaza after the conflict, a new governance plan was already taking shape. As before, this proposal envisions Palestinian technocrats—not political factions—to handle the day-to-day administration. A multinational “Board of Peace” would be in charge of the technocrats. At the same time, a robust International Stabilisation Force will maintain security and support Demilitarisation efforts.
In reaction to this deadlock, the plan calls for a temporary period in which governance is separated from the political fray. Israeli forces have retreated behind their so-called “yellow line.” This boundary delineates territory governed by Hamas from territory governed by the Israeli military. Yet, there is still reason to be skeptical about whether this deal can lead to a long-term solution to the decades-long conflict.
“It paves the way for field arrangements imposed outside the Palestinian national will,” – Hamas
If the proposal does indeed represent a long-awaited turn toward stability, grave concerns remain about whether it can be pulled off. The road to realizing a Palestinian state is out of sight. Lingering disagreements on major sticking points such as borders and governance remain a sticking point to implementation.
Humanitarian Crisis Deepens
The humanitarian crisis in Gaza is at an all-time high. Food insecurity and lack of access to essential services only deepen the crisis for families, heightening the burden on civilians trapped between warring factions. The Israeli blockade has severely restricted the flow of imports, including lifesaving emergency supplies, and exports. Consequently, communities are experiencing acute lack of food, medicine, and other critical resources.
However, as seen above, even while international organizations try to intervene and help, the ground situation is still very precarious. Despite some aid making it through, it’s nowhere near enough to meet the dire needs of the 1.6 million people. Even the Rafah Crossing, a critical route for humanitarian assistance that goes through Egypt, has become a point of contention, with both sides reportedly trading demands over its opening.
