Hamas & Israel: Still Awaiting a Ceasefire

       On April 2^nd, 2019, The Jerusalem Post published an article regarding a timeline for a potential ceasefire based on understandings between Hamas and Israel. The terms for an agreement was initially administered by Egypt and Israel, and Egyptian intelligence officials delivered the understandings to the head of the Hamas “political bureau,” Ismail Haniyeh. Hamas is demanding the removal of signal jamming devices used in Israeli prisons, and Hamas requests a pause on punishment towards Palestinian prisoners who stabbed two Israeli guards at the Negev Ketziot Prison about two weeks ago. Another ceasefire detail is the return of these Palestinian prisoners in exchange for Israeli captives and two bodies of IDF soldiers killed in Operation Protective Edge in 2014.

Hamas Leader, Ismail Haniyeh

 Ismail Haniyeh did not assure Palestinians about the understandings and agreements upon a potential ceasefire despite the recent rockets from Gaza into Israel last week injuring seven Israeli family members. Palestinian sources confirm that parts of the ceasefire understandings have already been implemented, such as decreasing the sea blockade for an expansion of fishing zones, and reopening the border towns, Kerem Shalom and Erez. United Nations diplomatic representative for the Middle East, Nickolay Mladenov carried out discussions with Hamas officials regarding the Palestinian prisoners to be exchanged for Israeli captives, however the prisoners intend to go on a hunger strike next week. Hamas also asks Qatar and Egypt to negotiate with Israel to lessen the restrictions on these inmates.  A Hamas official in Gaza, Ismail Radwan, explains that no long-term ceasefire is included in the understandings, however Hamas is working with Palestinians to stabilize factions and their truce agreement with Israel after Operation Protective Edge 2014. Justice Minister of Israel, Ayelet Shaked claims that a ceasefire will not be permitted unless the bodies and captives are returned to the Israeli families. The UN envoy, Mladenov is urging both Israel and Hamas to deescalate any further violence and focus their efforts on aiding the suffering citizens of Gaza.

United Nations Middle East envoy, Nickolay Mladenov

The Ad Hoc Liaison Committee has raised about $110 million for humanitarian costs of health, water sanitation, and employment for Gazan inhabitants. Mladenov also asks Fatah and Hamas to reconcile their differences and work together to restore the Gaza economy and bring hope to the suffering population. The families of the deceased IDF soldiers from the 2014 operation have yet to be returned, and Israel’s Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, has failed to negotiate with Hamas to return the bodies. Hamas is continuing to hold two Israeli citizens captive, and one of the two suffers from a mental illness. A ceasefire still awaits to become in effect. 

       The informative article was written by three authors: Khaled Abu Toameh, Tovah Lazaroff, and Yvette J. Deane, which is a mix of one Israeli Arab, and two American Jews living in Israel. All the authors have an extensive background of writing articles regarding Israel and Palestinian politics, which confirms strong reliability of the information included in this article. Multiple sources are identified, and quotes are incorporated, for instance the Hamas Chief, Ismail Haniyeh (indirect quotes are used for him) and the UN envoy for the Middle East, Nickolay Mladenov. The quotes of many important political figures ensure that the information is first hand evidence for the involved parties of the ceasefire understandings. As the reader, the intriguing sufficient details about the ceasefire demands and constraints are easily understood. The well-balanced article moves smoothly along different aspects of the ceasefire, prisoners and captives, and reconciliations for the amelioration of Gaza citizens.

Hamas militants (Egypt-brokered Ceasefire with Hamas & Israel) 

In an article by Haaretz from August 15^th, 2018, the same topic information correlates with this news article from the Jerusalem Post. The same UN envoy, Mladenov and Israel political leaders are quoted with their opinions and stance on the ceasefire agreements. 

       The multiple authors restrain their opinions and views regarding the political ceasefire between Hamas and Israel. The overall language is respectful for all the parties, however Ismail Haniyeh is stated to be the head of the Hamas “political bureau,” and the quotation marks suggest the bureau or position is not formally recognized. Another interesting use of language was explaining a rocket launch from “Israel Gaza” rather than constituting Gaza as a Palestinian territory.

Israel Ministers from the far right, Bennett and Shaked

One significant viewpoint from the authors is claiming that Israeli political figures, Bennett and Shaked are members of the “far right” implying they have strong right-wing opinions on Palestinian politics. As mentioned earlier, the Haaretz news agency is known to be a left-wing liberal article source. The article from Haaretz ensures readers that the ceasefire went into effect, while the Jerusalem Post explains it is still under consideration and negotiation from all sides since 2014. There is still many factors of the ceasefire that must be negotiated in order to come to a complete ceasefire agreement.