Ceasefire Agreement Promises End to Gaza Genocide

Boy sitting in the rubble of a destroyed UNRWA school in Nuseirat, Gaza. © 2024 UNRWA Photo
Boy sitting in the rubble of a destroyed UNRWA school in Nuseirat, Gaza. © 2024 UNRWA Photo

On the birthday of Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr., Massachusetts Peace Action (MAPA) today welcomes the news that Israel and Hamas have agreed to end the devastating carnage in the Gaza Strip after 15 months of deadly Israeli attacks that killed tens of thousands of innocent Palestinian civilians.

The three-phase ceasefire deal will include the release of dozens of Israeli prisoners being held in Gaza and hundreds of Palestinians being held in Israel. It will allow entry of desperately needed food, medicine, and other humanitarian aid for the people of Gaza, and calls for Israeli forces to leave Gaza.

We remain cautiously optimistic while waiting for the details of the ceasefire agreement to be released, and waiting for Israel to confirm its agreement. MAPA hopes both parties will act in good faith to implement the agreement and uphold its provisions.

We are also mindful that more U.S. pressure on Israel’s government, including withholding of arms shipments, would have yielded much earlier approval of an agreement accepted by Hamas and the UN Security Council in May, but refused by Israel. Thousands have needlessly died since then. Now we demand that the US government and the UN ensure that the agreement is upheld by all parties.  In particular, it is critical that we keep up pressure on the U.S. government and Israel to ensure that phase 2 of the agreement, which calls for withdrawal of Israeli troops from Gaza, be implemented.

The ceasefire deal is a critical first step in support of the safety and right to life of all people living in Israel and Palestine.  But an end to US arms shipments to Israel and to the Israeli occupation of Palestinian territories are crucial for any lasting peace.  We will continue to work for a solution that provides justice for both Israelis and Palestinians.