The word ceasefire evokes a pause in war, a moment of
calm. But for Palestinians, this pause often means something different: a brief
silence before the next attack, a reset button for Israel’s military machine,
and a continuation of everyday occupation and humiliation.
The international community frequently celebrates ceasefires
as progress, but most of them are temporary, one-sided, and deceptive. They
give the illusion of balance, when the reality is anything but.
Understanding ceasefires in Palestine requires looking
beyond the headlines. A ceasefire is not just a moment of quiet, it is a
political act, shaped by power, occupation, and the absence of accountability.
To grasp its full meaning, we must start with history.
Historical Overview of Ceasefires in the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict
The first formal ceasefires between Israel and Palestinian
groups began in the early 2000s, during the Second Intifada. Since then,
temporary truces have become a pattern, especially after major Israeli assaults
on Gaza.
Some of the most widely covered ceasefires include:
- The
2008–2009 ceasefire after Operation Cast Lead
- The
November 2012 truce following Operation Pillar of Defense
- The
2014 agreement after Operation Protective Edge
- The
May 2021 ceasefire post Operation Guardian of the Walls
- The
November 2023 truce after Israel’s month-long siege and airstrikes on Gaza
- Numerous
unreported or short-lived truces broken by Israeli incursions or
assassinations
These ceasefires often follow a bloody cycle. Israel
launches large-scale military operations, destroying infrastructure, killing
civilians, and targeting resistance.
Then, under international pressure, a ceasefire is reached,
typically brokered by Egypt, Qatar, or the UN. But the siege continues,
settlements expand, and justice is delayed.
The Gaza Blockade and False Ceasefires
One of the biggest misconceptions is that ceasefires bring
peace to Gaza. In reality, even during a truce, Gaza remains sealed off by
land, sea, and air. The Israeli-imposed blockade, which has lasted since 2007,
turns Gaza into a massive open-air prison.
Israel decides what enters and exits—food, medicine,
construction materials, even baby formula. It restricts fuel, leaving hospitals
in blackout conditions. Electricity comes only a few hours a day. Clean water
is scarce. Economic activity is nearly impossible.
So when Western media declare “calm returns to Gaza,” they
ignore the unchanging brutality of daily life. There is no peace. Just a
quieter kind of violence—one that starves, suffocates, and isolates.
This blockade has been described by human rights groups as
collective punishment. Under international law, it is illegal. Yet it persists
with near-total international complicity.
Who Breaks the Ceasefires and Why?
It is often assumed that both sides are equally responsible
for breaking ceasefires. But historical data reveals something else entirely.
Israel has frequently violated ceasefire agreements—through targeted
assassinations, airstrikes, incursions, or settler violence.
Palestinian factions, including Hamas and others, often
respond to Israeli violations with rocket fire. This retaliation is then
labeled the “start” of the violence by media outlets, erasing the initial
Israeli provocation.
For example:
- In
2012, Israel killed Hamas commander Ahmed al-Jabari during ceasefire
negotiations
- In
2014, a fragile truce was shattered by Israeli bombings that killed
children playing on a Gaza beach
- In
2021, Israeli forces stormed Al-Aqsa Mosque during Ramadan, sparking mass
protests and triggering the May war
- In
2023, ceasefires were broken by Israeli drone strikes on Gaza
neighborhoods during agreed pauses
This pattern shows that Israel uses ceasefires
strategically. They are not agreements to stop violence, they are opportunities
to rearm, regroup, and rebuild international legitimacy.
Ceasefires as a Tool of Control
In the logic of occupation, ceasefires are not meant to end
violence. They are meant to manage it. Israel uses ceasefires to control the
pace and timing of its attacks. When the world begins to notice the carnage, it
agrees to stop.
Once the cameras leave, the oppression resumes. This time
more quietly.
Even the idea of a “return to calm” is deeply political.
Calm for whom? Calm for Israeli citizens, perhaps, but not for Palestinians
under daily surveillance, drone strikes, home demolitions, and the constant
threat of displacement.
This manipulation of ceasefires as a tool of domination is
rarely questioned in Western policy circles. Instead, Palestinians are told to
be grateful when bombs stop falling, as if the absence of airstrikes is a
favor, not a right.
Life During Ceasefire: West Bank and East Jerusalem
While Gaza often dominates the conversation, it is important
to note that the West Bank and East Jerusalem remain hotspots of oppression
even during ceasefires. Israeli military raids continue in cities like Jenin
and Nablus.
Checkpoints stay in place. Night arrests of children and
teenagers never stop.
Settler attacks in the West Bank spike during these periods.
Backed by the Israeli military, settlers destroy crops, burn homes, and harass
Palestinian farmers with impunity. Land confiscation and expansion of illegal
settlements move forward, often more aggressively.
East Jerusalem faces its own share of suffocating policies.
Home demolitions, residency revocations, and police brutality are daily
occurrences. Even as Gaza is declared “calm,” the rest of Palestine burns slowly.
How the Media Frames Ceasefires?
Language plays a key role in shaping perceptions.
International media often describe the conflict in terms of “clashes” or
“escalation,” as if it’s a fight between equals. This framing hides the power
imbalance and erases the reality of Israeli settler-colonialism.
The word “ceasefire” becomes a reset button. It removes
context. It reduces a seventy-five-year occupation to a brief spasm of
violence. Once rockets stop flying, the story ends for journalists, but not for
Palestinians.
This is not just bias. It is complicated. Media narratives
that flatten the conflict allow Israel to escape accountability and portray
Palestinian resistance as irrational violence.
The Role of International Powers in Temporary Ceasefires
When violence reaches a breaking point, international actors
often call for a ceasefire. These calls come from the United Nations, the
European Union, and Arab states.
The United States typically phrases its statements in terms
of Israel’s “right to self-defense,” followed by a vague call for
“de-escalation.”
Rarely do these calls mention the occupation, the siege, or
the daily apartheid system Palestinians live under. Instead, ceasefires become
the main goal: not justice, not resolution, just quiet.
Egypt and Qatar often serve as mediators, negotiating terms
to end hostilities. But their influence is limited, and their interest often
lies in restoring regional stability, not securing Palestinian rights.
Meanwhile, international law is clear: occupation,
collective punishment, and targeting civilians are violations. But enforcement
remains nonexistent. No sanctions. No ICC prosecutions. Just silence.
Ceasefires as a Political Trap
Every time a ceasefire is reached, Israel claims victory. It
paints itself as a defender. Its government gains support. Its economy
recovers. Meanwhile, Palestinians are left to rebuild from rubble, bury their
dead, and prepare for the next round.
Worse, these ceasefires are sometimes used to drive wedges
between Palestinian political factions. When Hamas agrees to a ceasefire and
the PA is sidelined, internal divisions grow. Israel exploits this disunity to
weaken Palestinian national aspirations.
In the global imagination, the conflict resets. Palestine
disappears from headlines. The slow violence resumes.
What a Just Ceasefire Would Actually Require?
For a ceasefire to be real and just, it must dismantle the
structures of oppression. This includes:
- Ending
the blockade on Gaza permanently
- Removing
all illegal settlements in the West Bank
- Halting
land confiscations and demolitions in Jerusalem
- Releasing
political prisoners held without charge
- Allowing
full freedom of movement across Palestinian territories
- Recognizing
Palestinian sovereignty and self-determination under international law
Without these steps, a ceasefire is not peace. It is
oppression with the sound turned down.
Why Temporary Ceasefires Are Not Enough?
The idea that temporary ceasefires are steps toward peace is
dangerous. In reality, they entrench the status quo. They normalize war. They
reward Israel for violating rights and give the international community an
excuse to look away.
Each new ceasefire starts from a worse place. Gaza’s
infrastructure decays further. The West Bank loses more land. More generations
grow up in trauma. Each truce is shorter and more fragile.
Eventually, even the idea of a ceasefire begins to lose meaning.
A ceasefire is not an end. It is not a victory. It is not a
solution. For Palestinians, it is a pause in one kind of violence and the
continuation of another.
As long as Gaza remains blockaded, the West Bank remains
colonized, and Jerusalem remains under siege, no ceasefire will ever be enough.
The world must stop treating silence as peace and look at the systems of
control that silence protects.
Peace is possible, but only through justice. Until that
justice is secured, the next ceasefire will be just another intermission before
the next assault.
FAQ’s
Do ceasefires in Palestine usually hold?
No. Most ceasefires are violated, usually by Israeli actions such as airstrikes, raids, or assassinations. They are rarely monitored or enforced.
Why do Palestinians continue to resist during ceasefires?
Because the oppression never stops. Even when rockets are silent, the siege, the occupation, and the violence continue. Resistance reflects ongoing injustice.
Who mediates the ceasefires?
Typically Egypt, Qatar, or the United Nations. However, their focus is usually on short-term calm rather than long-term justice.
Are ceasefires legally binding?
In many cases, they are informal agreements. Even when they are formal, Israel faces no consequences for breaking them.
What do Palestinians want instead of temporary ceasefires?
They want liberation, dignity, and peace grounded in justice. That includes ending the occupation, lifting the siege, and full recognition of their human rights.