world

A ceasefire agreement between the Palestinian Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) and Israel came into effect on January 19.

The agreement was concluded on January 15.

The main contents of the deal are that Hamas and Israel mutually release hostages, the Israeli troops withdraw from the Gaza Strip and a large-scale plan for the reconstruction of Gaza is implemented.

As the ceasefire was enforced, the Gaza situation, which had driven the Middle East into the crucible of tragic death for 15 months, has entered the buffer stage. 

As to this, analysts commented that though a series of progress has been made in resolving the Gaza issue by the recent truce, it is still difficult to be optimistic about the prospects for peace.

It is because Israel accepted the ceasefire under pressure from at home and abroad but refuses to concede over the key issue. 

Regarding the ceasefire as surrender, Israel’s far-right conservatives insist on attacking Hamas continuously.

The Israeli defence minister declared in an open statement on January 1 that the Israeli troops would escalate the military operation in the Gaza Strip until the hostages are released and Hamas is eliminated.

The Israeli national security minister, who has been opposed to the contents of the agreement since last year, expressed his intention to secede from the government in case the Prime Minister should consent to the agreement, describing it as submission to Hamas.

Saying that his party opposes the cessation of the fight in the Gaza Strip and the release of Palestinian prisoners, he insisted on continuing military actions until Hamas is defeated.

Another far-right personage demanded a guarantee that Israel would resume attack on the Gaza Strip after the implementation of the first stage of the agreement.

On the evening of January 18, the day before the truce came into effect, even the Israeli Prime Minister incited war fever, asserting that if they should resume the war, they would do with a powerful force and new method. 

Saying that Israel will not reduce the number of military forces stationed in the area along the Egypt-Gaza border, but increase it to some extent, he added that the Israeli troops will blockade the area in every direction. 

What is more serious is that the chief of the general staff of the Israeli army ordered the military to prepare to carry out a new attack in Gaza on the day after the agreement came into effect.

It is contrary to the spirit of the ceasefire agreement and clearly shows what Israel’s inner thought is.

Actually, the Israeli troops indiscriminately attacked about 50 targets in Gaza on January 16, the day after consenting to the ceasefire agreement, killing 81 persons and injuring nearly 200. 

Asserting that a proper roll of hostages was not provided, Israel shelled and made air raids on several areas of Gaza until just before the ceasefire agreement came into effect, killing eight persons.

Analysts said that the fact that Israel threw away the agreement with Hezbollah and continues to cling to military attack shows that it is a matter of time that the deal in Gaza will be scuppered.

Israel is utterly indifferent to peace in the Middle East.

It wants only territorial expansion and is not hesitant on its way to achieve its wild ambition, whether innocent Palestinian civilians die or not. 

As long as the aggressive Jewish state exists, durable peace in Palestine can never be expected.