Just eight days into the Israel-Hamas ceasefire ‘deal’ brokered by the US, a Palestinian family of eleven was struck by Israel while traveling back to their home. By October 22nd, Israel had violated the ceasefire 80 times, killing 95 people. “These violations have included crimes of direct gunfire against civilians, deliberate shelling and targeting, and the arrest of a number of civilians, reflecting the occupation’s continued policy of aggression despite the declared end of the war”, reads Gaza’s media office statement. With the hostages back in Israel and a pacified citizenry, the slaughter has restarted. The forced starvation continues with fewer than agreed 600 aid trucks being allowed per day. In a gross violation of the ceasefire, on 28th October, Israel killed 104 people overnight, including 35 children.
On September 29, Trump announced that the White House had developed a ‘comprehensive’ twenty-point plan ‘to end the Gaza conflict’, drafted with Netanyahu’s advisor, in consultation with eight Arab and Muslim-majority countries, although the draft was later changed by Netanyahu. It is interesting to note that not a single Palestinian official was consulted. In effect, this deal is an ultimatum given to Hamas by the US and Israel.
While Western powers celebrated the deal, calling it a roadmap to peace, we need to see its real intent. It intensifies neocolonial interventions to consolidate control over Gaza under the guise of reconstruction and governance. It effectively transfers decision-making over Gaza’s political future to an ‘international transitional body’, known as the ‘Board of Peace’ to be chaired by Trump and Tony Blair, former British PM and war criminal. This board will be tasked with ‘overseeing reconstruction, security coordination, and the appointment of an interim Palestinian administration’. The plan also allows the Board to veto or replace members of the Palestinian governing body if deemed ‘uncooperative’.
The vagueness of the deal is equally concerning. Rather than withdrawal of the Israeli Army, it mentions a ‘phased security transition’, with Israel retaining the right to conduct ‘counter-terror operations’ indefinitely. For Hamas it demands the complete disarmament and surrender of all weapons. “Hamas’ weapons are linked to the existence of the occupation and Israeli aggression, and if the occupation were to end, these weapons would be handed over to the state”- Hamas leader Khalil al-Hayya said in an interview with Al-Jazeera.
The deal excludes Palestinians as political agents, ensuring that Israel and Western powers retain ultimate power over Gaza. They are forced to exchange freedom for construction projects and accept apartheid in place of genocide. The Palestinian Authority, acting as a security subcontractor for Israel, has lost further credibility through repression and authoritarianism.
Without holding Israel accountable for the genocide, there can be no peace talks. This deal aims to eliminate all Palestinian resistance while ensuring Israel’s broader agenda of ethnic cleansing and land grab. Echoing Kwame Ture, this is peaceful injustice brokered by the imperialists, only liberation can set it right.
