On hope - Dahlia Scheindlin in Haaretz:
‘In response to what it claims are Hamas violations, Israel has escalated airstrikes against Gaza daily, killing hundreds – including two children per day on average –since the cease-fire went into effect. Hamas has released all the living hostage and most of the bodies of those killed on October 7. Yet the IDF remains entrenched and holds over half of Gaza, it allows or restricts aid at will, and the international force is nowhere to be seen.’
(…)
‘Responding to the recent Security Council resolution, the basic principles for a better immediate cease-fire plan range from the logical to the obvious. First, Palestinian critics repeatedly point out that any internationally brokered plan should bring Palestinians into the process. President Trump and his team are in regular dialogue with the Israeli leadership, while Qatar has effectively come to represent Hamas in negotiations, though Hamas barely represent Palestinians.’
(…)
‘Instead, many fear that the current International Stabilization Force (ISF) envisioned by the UN resolution is destined or even designed to freeze the status quo. Nusseibeh noted that Palestinians therefore see it as "legalization of the occupation," or "colonial oversight" as per an article by Yara Hawari, co-director of Al-Shabaka, a Palestinian policy hub. No Palestinian I spoke to gave credence to the resolution's vague mention of Palestinian "technocratic, apolitical committee," for Gaza, the eventual return of the PA, or the suggested, futuristic "statehood."’
(…)
‘Together, Palestinian engineers, architects, university students and researchers have produced a document of extraordinary scope and optimism, dedicated to reconstructing housing, health, education, neighborhoods, heritage and more. What's needed is a ceasefire and a political horizon to draw external commitments and funds.
Among Palestinians, the principles, vision and plans are there. Nusseibeh raised one final item the international community can provide, that the people of region – Israelis and Palestinians alike – so desperately need. Referring to peace process of a bygone age, he said, "The only way that we can begin to climb out of the hole that we're in right now is to provide that hope. And that hope is only going to come if we have a properly constructed international drive towards a long-term peace."’
Read the article here.
No international force, international drive.
One day the long-term peace will be there, probably after more bloodshed. We can only hope that that peace is not built on successful ethnic cleansing