Ceasefire in spotlight

129 Israelis are in custody with Palestinian militia, this is what is compelling Jewish state to opt for thaw.

Hectic diplomacy in Europe, the Mideast and in the corridors of the United Nations hints at a second ceasefire in the making. But the point is that none are sure as to what will be the outcome, and how long the truce would prevail? This is so because the right-wing government of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is in no mood to broker cessation of hostilities, and a renewed halt in fighting could be a ploy to seek release of captives held by Hamas. At least 129 Israelis, some including high-profile servicemen, are in custody with the Palestinian militia and this is what is compelling the Jewish state to opt for a thaw.

Warsaw was in the limelight as it saw three big stalwarts huddle in search of a way out for release of prisoners, and a subsequent peace deal. Mossad director David Barnea, CIA chief Bill Burns and Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani are contemplating the finer points of a truce but are reportedly confronted with conditionalities from Hamas. The demand is a “total ceasefire and a retreat of the Israeli occupation army from the Gaza Strip.” Ismail Haniyeh, who recently toured Cairo and met Egyptian intelligence chief Abbas Kamel, is hopeful of a win-win situation. That can, nonetheless, turn into a booby trap too as Hamas will be left with no cards in case of a captive-prisoner swap, and Tel Aviv returning back to firepower. It is shameful to record that the Israeli army during close-quarter combat over the last two days had conducted 300 strikes, killing and maiming hundreds of civilians, taking the death toll to over 20,000.

We have called for a permanent solution on these pages, and believe that the historic dispute cannot be ignored any further. A two-state solution desires some sincere diplomacy and taking to task the Zionist state in the larger interests of global peace. Ceasefire can be a means to an end, and not an end in itself. Two million devastated Palestinians cry for fair play and serenity.

 

Published in The Express Tribune, December 22^nd, 2023.

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