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.

Comments

Columbia President ( Katrina Armstrong) Is Replaced as Trump Threatens University’s Funding. Key Points. NYTimes

Key Points & Further Details on Columbia University Leadership Change 1. Presidential Change at Columbia University Katrina Armstrong stepped down as interim president of Columbia University. Claire Shipman , a journalist and Columbia alumna, was named acting president . Armstrong’s departure marks Columbia’s third leadership change since August 2024. 2. Trigger for Leadership Change The Trump administration threatened to withhold $400 million in federal funding from Columbia. This funding is roughly 20% of the university’s operating revenue . The university ultimately complied with government demands , causing internal and external backlash . 3. Government Demands & Columbia’s Compliance Columbia agreed to: Employ 36 campus safety officers with arrest powers . Adopt a formal definition of antisemitism . Review admissions policies . Increase oversight of its Middle Eastern, South Asian, and African Studies Department . These changes sparked faculty and...

Havens for Open Debate Or Enforcers of Political Orthodoxy. From Mahmood Khalil to Rumeysa Ozturk: The Rising Cost of Pro-Palestinian Activism on Campus.

The case of Rumeysa Ozturk , a Tufts University student detained by federal authorities , along with earlier incidents like that of Mahmood Khalil of Columbia University, raises serious concerns about the targeting of international students for their political views, particularly regarding Palestine-Israel discourse. This situation has broader implications for academic freedom, free speech, and the reputation of U.S. universities abroad , especially given the significant financial and intellectual contributions of international students to American higher education. --- 1. Impact on International Students: A Revenue & Reputation Concern - Financial Contribution : International students contribute $40 billion annually to the U.S. economy, with universities relying heavily on their tuition fees (often at higher out-of-state rates). - Chilling Effect : Cases like Ozturk’s and Khalil’s may deter prospective students from applying, fearing political perse...

Why Netanyahu Chose to Blow Up the Ceasefire and Return to War" Key Points. Mondoweiss

Key Points from the Article: "Why Netanyahu Chose to Blow Up the Ceasefire and Return to War" 1. Israel’s Resumption of War Israel resumed its military assault on Gaza early Tuesday, killing over 400 Palestinians , including 130 children . Key figures in Gaza’s civil administration were also targeted to weaken Hamas’s governance . 2. The Ceasefire Agreement and Israel’s Stalling Tactics A ceasefire deal was brokered by Egypt, Qatar, and the U.S . two months prior. The second phase of the deal included discussions about ending the war and reconstructing Gaza in exchange for Israeli captives . Netanyahu stalled , aiming to release captives without committing to ending the war . 3. Israel’s Blockade and Its Impact In early March , Israel blocked the Rafah crossing and cut off humanitarian aid , causing a severe humanitarian crisis in Gaza . Prices of goods soared , bakeries shut down , and hospitals ran out of fuel . 4. Hamas’s Unexpected Move ...

Ignoring Massacres in Gaza City While Protesting for Democracy in Tel Aviv, Hanin Majadli. Key Points. Haaretz

Brief introduction of Hanin Majadli Hanin Majadli Hanin Majadli is a Palestinian Israeli journalist and editor at Haaretz , Israel's liberal-leaning newspaper. She holds a bachelor's degree in Middle Eastern Studies and Arabic and Islamic Studies from Tel Aviv University. As an opinion columnist, Majadli focuses on the experiences and challenges of Arab-Palestinian communities in Israel , examining their complex relationships with the state and its Jewish citizens . She gives particular attention to the history of the Nakba and its deliberate omission from Israel's social and political narrative. In her role as editor of Haaretz 's Arabic edition , Majadli aims to broaden the reach of alternative Israeli perspectives, presenting journalistic work that diverges from mainstream Israeli media. Before joining Haaretz, Majadli founded a popular spoken Arabic school in Tel Aviv, promoting Arabic language and culture . She has also been active in addressing pol...

Price Tag Attackers: Extremist Settler Violence in the West Bank.

Year-by-year breakdown of documented " Price Tag" attacks in the West Bank and Israel , based on reports from UN OCHA , B’Tselem , Yesh Din , and Israeli media (Haaretz, Times of Israel). Introduction to "Price Tag" Attackers "Price Tag" attackers are extremist Israeli settlers , primarily affiliated with radical right-wing groups, who carry out violent acts agains Palestinians, Israeli security forces, and left-wing activists in retaliation for perceived threats to Jewish settlements in the West Bank . The term refers to the " price " they seek to impose for actions like outpost demolitions or Palestinian attacks on Israelis. - Vandalism, arson, or violence by extremist settlers against Palestinians, Israeli security forces, or left-wing activists. - Often involves graffiti (e.g., "Price Tag," "Revenge," or "Arabs Out"). - Retaliation for Palestinian attacks, outpost demolitions, or Israeli gover...

Ainnbeen

Search This Blog