Key Points : "The Ceasefire Charade" by Chris Hedges.

Key Points with Details: "The Ceasefire Charade" Key Points with Details: "The Ceasefire Charade" by Chris Hedges

1. Israel’s Pattern of Ceasefire Manipulation

Israel engages in phased agreements with Palestinians to secure immediate advantages, often abandoning subsequent phases.

Historical behavior includes provoking Palestinian retaliation to justify military action, breaking ceasefire deals.

2. The Current Three-Phase Ceasefire Deal

Phase 1:

A 42-day cessation of hostilities.

Release of 33 Israeli hostages (women, elderly, and ill) in exchange for up to 1,000 Palestinian prisoners.

Israeli troop withdrawal from populated areas in Gaza and entry of 600 aid trucks per day.

Phase 2:

Release of remaining Israeli hostages and Israel’s partial withdrawal, retaining control over the Philadelphi Corridor.

Phase 3:

Negotiations for a permanent end to hostilities.

3. Immediate Violations and Delays

Israel delayed cabinet approval while continuing attacks on Gaza, resulting in 81 Palestinian deaths in 24 hours.

Netanyahu accused Hamas of last-minute changes, while Hamas reiterated its commitment to the agreement.

Israel rejected a key term requiring troop withdrawal from the Philadelphi Corridor.

4. Challenges and Mistrust

Deep divisions persist:

Hamas seeks a lasting peace, but Israel insists on its military right to intervene.

Israel opposes Hamas governance in Gaza, leaving future political control unresolved.

Issues such as the status of UNRWA and Gaza’s reconstruction remain unaddressed.

No steps toward an independent Palestinian state are included.

5. Historical Context of Broken Agreements

The Camp David Accords (1979) normalized Egypt-Israel relations but failed to address Palestinian autonomy or halt settlement expansion.

Oslo Accords (1993-1995) promised peace and a Palestinian state but led to increased settlement activity and incomplete Israeli withdrawals.

Critics like Edward Said and Robert Fisk described these agreements as deceptive tools for Palestinian surrender.

6. Israeli Military Operations and Ceasefire Breaches

Numerous deadly assaults on Gaza followed ceasefire violations by Israel, often under self-defense claims.

Operations like Cast Lead (2008-2009), Pillar of Defense (2012), and Protective Edge (2014) caused mass Palestinian casualties.

Peaceful protests, including the Great March of Return (2018), were met with lethal force, killing hundreds of Palestinians.

7. Ongoing Gaza Blockade and the 2023 War

Gaza’s blockade, lasting over 16 years, confines Palestinians to dire conditions.

The October 7, 2023 breach of the security barrier by Palestinian gunmen led to over 1,200 Israeli deaths and intensified conflict, giving Israel justification for its Swords of Iron War.

8. Final Outlook on the Ceasefire

Israel’s ultimate goal remains the erasure of Palestinians from their land, according to Hedges. The fragile ceasefire may collapse, but hopes for a temporary halt to the violence persist.

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