Israel-Hamas deal: What makes a truce lead to lasting peace?: Analysis

Israel and Hamas Agree to Temporary Truce in Gaza War

After six weeks of war, Israel and Hamas have reached an agreement on a temporary truce. The truce, which would last for four days, aims to halt the fighting and allow for the exchange of captives and prisoners between the two sides. The war, which began on October 7 with an attack by Hamas that killed 1,200 people, has resulted in the death of over 14,000 Palestinians, mostly women and children, as a result of air and ground attacks.

Although Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has emphasized that the truce is only temporary and that the war will continue after its conclusion, truces have historically played a significant role in ending conflicts. However, the success of a truce largely depends on the level of trust and goodwill between the parties involved. In the case of the Israel-Hamas truce, there are concerns about the lack of a formal written text, monitoring mechanisms, and a commitment to addressing the underlying causes of the conflict.

To illustrate the potential for successful truces, the article highlights previous examples such as the Ethiopian-TPLF agreement in 2022. This agreement resulted in a permanent end to hostilities and included provisions for the disarmament of the TPLF and the reintegration of the Tigrayan people. Despite ongoing challenges, the peace has largely held in Ethiopia one year after the deal.

The article also mentions other truces, such as the Korean Armistice Agreement in 1953 and the Gulf War ceasefire in 1991, which helped to avoid major military conflicts in their respective regions. However, it notes that the situations in Sudan, Syria, and Israel-Palestine have seen multiple failed ceasefire attempts, primarily due to unresolved political differences and a lack of commitment to addressing the root causes of the conflicts.

The analysis provided by experts suggests that a narrow focus on a temporary truce, without addressing the deeper issues, is unlikely to lead to lasting peace. The presence of verification and monitoring mechanisms is crucial to ensuring the success of a ceasefire. The article also cites research showing that over 85% of ceasefires and peace deals between 1975 and 2011 ultimately failed.

In terms of credibility, the article provides background information on the conflicts mentioned and includes quotes from experts in the field. However, it does not provide external sources or additional perspectives to support the arguments presented. Moreover, while the article presents some potential biases by focusing primarily on the perspectives of experts critical of the truce, it does not sufficiently address the perspective of the opposing side or provide a balanced view of the situation.

Overall, this article provides a reasonable overview of the Israel-Hamas truce and examines the potential for success based on previous experiences. However, its credibility is limited due to the lack of external sources and a balanced presentation of different perspectives. The political landscape and prevalence of fake news may influence the public’s perception by reinforcing existing biases and hindering a nuanced understanding of the topic.
Source: https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2023/11/23/israel-hamas-deal-what-makes-a-truce-lead-to-lasting-peace