After over a year-long period of terror in Palestine and Israel, a ceasefire was brokered on January 15, 2025. Oxford Dictionary defines a ceasefire as a temporary suspension of fighting while discussions are made to reach a permanent peace deal. The deal aims to bring a permanent end to the fighting and free the hostages held by Hamas in Gaza in exchange for Palestinian prisoners held by Israel. According to BBC News, “About 1,200 people were killed and 251 taken back to Gaza as hostages when Hamas attacked Israel on 7 October 2023. This triggered a massive Israeli military offensive in Gaza.”
When asked about her thoughts and hopes for the ceasefire, Emma Ufakacar, a junior at Ramapo, inquired about the specific provisions of the agreement. The ceasefire will be carried out in three stages, a plan originally created by former President Joe Biden during his term in May 2024. The idealistic agreement includes three stages. Stage One, lasting 42 days and beginning on January 19th, after Prime Minister of Israel Benjamin Nethenyahu and the Israeli government finally officially approved the agreement, there will be a complete ceasefire. Hamas will release a total of 33 hostages, and Israel will release about 1,900 Palestinian prisoners. Israeli forces will leave populated areas, and displaced Palestinian civilians will be allowed to return to their neighbourhoods. During Stage Two, details of which are still being negotiated, a permanent ceasefire will be established, wherafter the remaining living hostages in Gaza will be exchanged for more Palestinian convicted prisoners, and Israeli forces will make a complete withdrawal. Finally, Stage Three includes the return of all remaining bodies of dead hostages and the reconstruction of Gaza, which is expected to take years” (BCC).
While this ceasefire stands to potentially bring an end to over a year of violence, there have been conflicts that have arisen within the last few days. Israeli and Hamas officials originally reached an agreement to exchange the bodies of dead hostages for the release of hundreds of Palestinian convicted prisoners. According to AP News, “Israel has delayed the release of 600 Palestinian prisoners since Saturday to protest what it says is the cruel treatment of hostages during their release by Hamas. The militant group has said the delay is a ‘serious violation’ of their ceasefire and that talks on a second phase are not possible until they are freed.” Prime Minister of Isreal, Benjamin Netheyahu further delayed the ceasefire’s progression by demanding that Hamas must stop what he calls their “cynical use of hostages for progands purposes” in return for the hostages being returned as promised. Hamas in turn, has accused Israel of deliberately disrupting the ceasefire agreement. Currently, BCC states that “Hamas has offered to release the remaining hostages due to be freed in the second phase in one go, but only if Israel pulls all its forces out of Gaza and there is a permanent end to the war. Israel has demanded the complete disarmament of Hamas, which it has so far rejected.” This deadlock threatens to collapse the ceasefire when the current six-week first phase of the deal expires this weekend.
Lily Donch, a junior at Ramapo and an AP Government and Politics student who is very well-versed in recent events, comments, “I truly hope that the ceasefire works out, for the sake of the lives of both sides. Although it’s clearly a long and complicated process, I hope an end to this conflict is near.”
Mrs. Vander Molen, a history teacher at Ramapo High School, offered, “While these conflicts have gained international attention and many have argued about the different ways to end the violence, it is important to keep in mind that peace is always the end goal.” While a ceasefire in the Middle East offers a temporary respite from violence, it underscores the need for continued diplomatic efforts to address the region’s long-standing conflicts.
