Post Ceasefire: No Peace Without Ending Genocide

In light of the recent ceasefire between Gaza and Israel, there is a glimmer of hope for many. This might signal the end of the violence that has affected the two regions for years. However, as pointed out by many, a vital aspect of any lasting peace must also be reconciled with the bitter injustices that fueled the violence. The violence of the ongoing genocide suffered by Palestine and the racist system keeping them in check. 

Even though thousands of civilians lost their lives during the ongoing violence, the truce has managed to end the needless killings on either side. However, things remain dicey for most civilians of the two regions. A comprehensive shift in how both groups are treated is necessary. Otherwise, the violence will undoubtedly resurface.

The last agreement does not represent peace but rather an impermanent break in a conflict that dates back almost a century. The Palestinians are already suffering from systematic oppression, dehumanization, and violence in the shape of endless bombings. The recent ceasefire has only served to bring into more explicit focus the deep inequalities that exist for the under-attack people of Gaza and Palestine. However, it can be claimed that the situation is not as grim, for many see it as a temporary pause rather than an end.

Another extremely urgent issue requires addressing the multiyear genocide unfolding. While the word “genocide” is not used lightly in a variety of contexts, many scholars, human rights organizations, and advocates for the Palestinian people have repeatedly stressed the ongoing campaign to erase Palestinian identity and existence. This includes such activities as targeting numbers of civilian infrastructures, displacing Palestinian families, and perpetuating settlement within a territory that had already been taken.

Human rights groups documented a lot of abuses against Palestinians. Extradition killings, indiscriminate bombings, and systematic denial of essential rights make people incapable of getting things like potable water, access to health care, and education. Some people argue such actions amount to and constitute acts of genocide under international laws. It is a deliberate attempt to destroy in whole or in part a particular racial or religious group.

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Palestinians continue to live under a system that treats them like second-class citizens. This system denies their human rights and exposes them to violence and humiliation daily, despite the desire for a ceasefire. The Israeli government’s disinclination to recognize the systematic discrimination and violence that the Palestinians have been subjected to tends only to prolong their suffering, thus permanently reducing any hopes of lasting peace.

For the present convention of peace to become a reality, actions must come from the international community to be of some use and pressure. The global consensus must go beyond mere words and gestures to work. Such pressure should be exerted so that responsible actors for the genocide and apartheid of Palestine can restore peace not just for the sake of peace in the region but for humanity itself.

The law should be followed, especially in holding those accountable for crimes committed. This implies supporting Palestinian self-determination and autonomy and ensuring they will be at the table for any peace process. There must be constant pressure applied on Israel to end its illegal closure of Palestinian territories and dismantle apartheid constructs that keep Palestinians under oppressive rule.