The Red & White

For the first time in more than a year, the skies of Gaza are quiet. The petrifying sound of explosions and gunshots has ceased, and the people of Gaza can have a moment of stillness as negotiators gather for a fragile peace summit. After months in phase five of famine and bombardment, Israel and Hamas have reached a temporary truce that includes a hostage and prisoner exchange. While this can be viewed as a step towards peace, many are cautious that this is just a pause before the next tragedy.

On October 7th, a conflict broke out when Hamas, a militia considered by many to be a terrorist group, launched a coordinated attack on Israel, killing and capturing civilians. Israel responded with airstrikes and an invasion of Gaza. What started as a battle between Hamas and Israel soon became a humanitarian disaster: a battle between the Israeli military and the people of Gaza. Entire neighborhoods were destroyed, and civilians were met with constant fire. The lines became blurred between the military and the innocent people, including children, trying to live their lives. Soon, Gaza became a symbol of suffering, and the idea of peace became impossible to grasp. 

The summit for Israel and Gaza includes the exchange of twenty Israeli hostages for two thousand Palestinian prisoners. Among the prisoners, 250 of them were serving a life sentence, and around 1700 were detained without any charges since the October 7th attack. Unfortunately, the remains of four deceased Israeli hostages were also returned, while 24 are still missing. On the bright side, this deal allowed for renewed aid to enter Gaza. If anything, it can be viewed as a small victory for humanity: a time when both sides sacrificed to save lives. 

Following the ceasefire, aid trucks began crossing into Gaza again. An astonishing 600 trucks daily, carrying food, fuel, and medicine, have allowed the people of Gaza to begin their recovery from a state of famine. However, after months of war, Gaza reached phase five famine, the most severe level, and many people starved to death or developed permanent health issues regarding starvation. Farms, bakeries, and food stores have all been destroyed, and even aid convoys were attacked. A ceasefire might ensure peace from attacks, but hunger remains an invisible killer in Gaza. 

The overall goal of the summit is to turn this ceasefire into a lasting truce: a permanent end to hostilities, the release of the remaining hostages and prisoners, and the reconstruction of Gaza infrastructure-wise and humanity-wise. We’d be naive to remain incautious, for the risk of this promise being broken between the opposing sides can still be broken. With that in mind, this is a great start on the path to recovery for anyone affected who was at one point on the brink of death and has been given a chance to redeem their lives. 

There is peace now in Gaza, even if only for a brief moment. What was originally a war between the Israeli military and Hamas turned into a genocide for the innocent people of Gaza and Palestine as a whole; 67,000 Palestinians in the Gaza Strip have been killed as of early October, and many people still choose to remain silent because they like to “Stay out of politics.” This is not a matter of politics; this is a matter of humanity. It is unacceptable to be aware of the death of thousands and brush it under the rug because of “politics.” Never stop speaking about Gaza; the more people who are aware, the more everyone can contribute to putting an end to this conflict.