Opinion Respite in Gaza

The declaration of a long-term ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, after 50 days of off-again, on-again fighting, has brought immediate relief to both sides of the border between Israel and the Gaza Strip. The Egyptian-brokered truce that began on Tuesday came after more than 2,200 lives were lost, mostly Palestinian. Notwithstanding the rhetoric spun by either side, the one undeniable fact is the war-weariness among both Gazan and Israeli civilians. This is the only reason for optimism about the latest truce. The deal will open some of Gaza’s border crossings and ease restrictions as well as allow in aid and building material. Indirect talks on Israel’s call for demilitarisation of the Strip, as well as Hamas’s demands for a port and an airport in Gaza and the release of prisoners will commence a month later in Cairo.

This is the same deal offered through Egyptian mediation last month, which Hamas had rejected. Irrespective of its claims of “victory”, none of Hamas’s core demands has been granted, while the outfit’s top military leadership has been decimated. With 3,00,000 Gazans reportedly rendered homeless, Hamas had no option but to finally agree. Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu has braved strong criticism from rightwing members of his cabinet to accept the deal. Although there is reason for genuine scepticism about the ceasefire holding, Netanyahu’s angry colleagues — who preferred a “decisive” Hamas defeat — disregard the untenability of a military campaign whose use of overwhelming force and the resulting humanitarian crisis was diplomatically indefensible.

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The responsibility for Gaza’s reconstruction rests on Hamas, the Palestinian Authority and Israel. Given the governing disaster that Hamas has been, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and Netanyahu must leverage this moment to begin a serious dialogue that puts Israelis and Palestinians firmly back on the road to a durable peace.