Israel and Hamas have agreed on the first phase of a peace plan for Gaza. The agreement – which still contains many uncertainties – means, among other things, that the daily bombings of Gaza, which mainly kill civilians, will stop and humanitarian aid will once again be allowed onto the coastal strip. Hostages and prisoners will also be released.
This is great news. It means an end to the genocide – more than 67,000 Palestinians have been killed and almost every building has been destroyed. People in Gaza are desperate for the violence to end. But this agreement is no peace deal yet. It is crucial that further steps are taken to achieve a lasting ceasefire and peace. This will require more than this agreement offers.
Israel must withdraw completely from Gaza and allow unhindered humanitarian aid to the entire area. This should not be part of any agreement, as these are obligations under international law. It is also necessary to address the root causes, including apartheid and the Israeli occupation of the West Bank. This requires more pressure on the Israeli government, including from the Netherlands.
The reached agreement is part of the twenty-point plan presented earlier by US President Trump. This plan has positive aspects, such as the ceasefire, but it is also problematic in many ways. It is a colonial plan, in which Palestinians have little say. A peace plan requires the involvement of all parties. Palestinian self-determination plays no role whatsoever. Moreover, the plan will be led by US President Trump and former British Prime Minister Blair. A real peace plan should be based on ownership, inclusiveness, truth-finding and justice. Victims should be at the centre. This is all completely absent from the plan. It is in fact a capitulation to Israel, lacking guarantees of security and justice for Palestinians.
Finally, Israel has already ended a ceasefire before, in January this year, after which it continued its attack on Gaza with full force. Strong pressure on Israel, including at least a complete arms embargo and economic sanctions, will therefore be necessary to force it to comply with the agreement now and to take further steps afterwards. The Netherlands should therefor finally draw a red line and contribute to lasting peace.
