By Kean Huy Alado
Over 15 months ago, Palestine, controlled by Hamas, and Israel have been in heavy conflict over rights to territory, leading to many extreme actions taken on both sides. However, on Jan. 19, 2025, both sides agreed to a ceasefire deal with mediation from other countries such as the U.S.A and Qatar over the many casualties. This marked, at the very least, a pause within a gruesome war.
A Jan. 27 report indicated that approximately 61,000 Palestinians were injured, which includes 14,000 who were missing and presumed to be buried under debris combined with previous statistics of 47,000 deaths. For Israel, approximately 1,706 Israelites have been killed according to a report on Jan. 8, 2025.
The ceasefire deal that Hamas and Israel struck would run into three phases. The first phase, and currently the one in motion, Hamas is to release vulnerable hostages such as women, children, elders, and the wounded. In turn, Israel will release some of their own, with the expectation of receiving 33 hostages for the release of 2,000 Palestinians. As of Feb. 18, 2025, Hamas has released three hostages for the two that Israel has returned to Palestine and plans to release an additional six with four bodies to boot.
Furthermore, as part of phase one, Israeli troops are forced to withdraw from large cities in Gaza, allowing aid to flood the Strip to provide support and recovery for affected populations. In the ceasefire agreement, Israel agreed for a minimum of 600 aid trucks to enter the area each day, which UNICEF, an organization that pursues to create an equitable world for every child, immediately acted upon, sending 630 humanitarian aid trucks on the first day. This allowed over 4,200 aid trucks to provide support every week. However, the delivery of aid to the people has been an issue. Threats of unexploded bombs still litter the area, and many roads remain damaged or unusable, leading to barriers for aid.
In the next phase, Israel hopes for the safe return of younger Israeli male hostages in exchange for more Palestinians. If the ceasefire progresses smoothly, the final phase would be the exchange of bodies, Israel’s full retreat from the Gaza Strip, and Palestine will be allowed to rebuild.
Though the ceasefire has been discussed since May 2024, it’s still regarded as a “fragile peace.” It’s currently at its most vulnerable by only being in phase one, with only a framework being provided for phase two and three.
For students at Barry University, the ceasefire in Gaza represents a sign of peace in a region proliferated with conflict.
Senior nursing student Isabelle Deroneth believes that “the ceasefire deal plays a crucial role in achieving a peaceful resolution to the war as long as it survives beyond the first stage and doesn’t completely collapse.” With the shakiness of the warring parties’ terms, Deroneth expressed concern for wellbeing of those affected and potential paths for Israel and Palestine to take to maintain and foster peace.
“[They should] first focus on implementing ‘short-term’ strategies to stabilize the situation before initiating long-term solutions for lasting peace,” she said. “During the ceasefire, I believe that there should be an expansion of humanitarian aid and the implementation of economic development initiatives for Gaza, as these measures would lay the foundation for rebuilding if the war ends.”
Other actions to advance the ceasefire agreement includes Israel’s Prime Minster, Benjamin Netanyahu, travelling to Washington D.C. to discuss terms and options for the second phase of the ceasefire with newly elected U.S. President, Donald Trump. This was the first time Netanyahu has visited the U.S. since the International Criminal Court (ICC) had issued an arrest warrant on Nov. 21, 2024, toward him.
The discussions between Netanyahu and Trump are set to begin on Feb. 3, 2025, and will be Trump’s first meeting with a foreign leader since his inauguration. The president is also claiming credit for the signing of the ceasefire deal on January 19 and stated on an evening news conference on Feb. 4 that, “The U.S. will take over the Gaza Strip, and we will do a job with it too,” indicating plans to discuss on solutions to permanently end the war in Gaza but implies a potentially forceful method.
However, as of Feb. 19, families of hostages held by Hamas question Netanyahu on the delay of the second phase discussions. They worry that delays could pose a threat and danger to the hostages.
Alternatively, Hamas indicated willingness to expedite the hostage release process. They declared that they would release six living hostages instead of the three that they planned to on February 22. Additionally, Hamas delivered four dead hostage bodies on February 20.
Later that day, Netanyahu discovered that one of the bodies was of an unidentified woman from Gaza instead of Shiri Bibas. Bibas was a woman killed in Israel bombings of Gaza along with her two children who were also returned on Feb. 20. This led Netanyahu to state that he would, “ensure that Hamas pays the full price for this cruel and malicious violation of the agreement.”
Overall, the ceasefire in Gaza presents an opportunity of respite, and more importantly, resolution. Despite rising tensions regarding integrity to the ceasefire, and promptness to act, a peaceful outcome is achievable with effort and integrity on all parties involved, which will most likely generate a favorable result for both Palestinians and Israelites.
Comments