Israel has announced a unilateral ceasefire in the Gaza invasion in a hope too deflect international criticism. From U. S. Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice to British Foreign Secretary David Miliband the move is being hailed as a response to the unequivocal pressure of the Western powers. Interesting, I don’t recall any pressure unequivocal or otherwise coming from the Great Powers. The criticism has come almost exclusively from ordinary people and human rights organizations. Hamas has rejected the ceasefire and vows to continue the fight until not one Israeli soldier remains in Palestinian territory and all borders are reopened. This is already being used to show that Hamas is unreasonable and therefore the initial attack by Israel was justified.
I am glad if one day or one hour goes by without someone dying. However I understand Hamas’ reluctance to accept the ceasefire. Israel has seized large portions of Gaza territory. Its troops remain entrenched and ready to resume the attack at any moment. No plan of withdrawal or normalization accompanies this move by the Israeli government. Nor has Israel announced any process to address these issues. So what we have here is a territory that has been invaded and occupied being told to stop resisting the occupation in exchange for their lives. Israel says “We will stop illegally murdering more of your citizens, if you allow us to retain the benefit we received from the ones we have already murdered.” What is the difference between this situation and the fall of France in 1940 when the puppet government of Vichy was allowed to survive temporarily? Frenchmen did not lay down their arms then and Palestinians have no incentive to lay down their arms now.
This is not peace. It is not a real ceasefire. It is just a lull in the killing. Whether Hamas capitulates or not, the destruction of the Palestinian nation will continue until not one Palestinian is left. That is the goal. It has been for the past 60 years and it will continue.
