After more than a year of fierce fighting between Israel and Hamas, and months of unsuccessful efforts to promote a ceasefire, the two negotiating mediators, the US and Qatar, announced on January 16 an agreement to ceasefire and release hostages.
People cheer in Khan Younis, Gaza on January 15.
Waiting for the deal to "reach the finish line"
The ceasefire includes the release of hostages in stages and the gradual withdrawal of Israeli troops from Gaza. It should be noted that the agreement does not mean an immediate end to the bombing in Gaza, but that this depends on the determination of the parties to implement the agreement in each stage. Israel and Hamas also reached a ceasefire in November 2023 but it soon collapsed, while looking at the agreement between Israel and Hezbollah, both sides still have attacks on each other, accusing the other of violating it.
In a new development, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said yesterday that his cabinet would not meet to approve the ceasefire agreement as originally planned, citing Hamas' last-minute withdrawal of some terms. Reuters quoted a senior Hamas official as saying that the group was committed to the ceasefire terms set forth by mediators. Barring last-minute problems, the agreement was expected to take effect on January 19.
Houthi forces in Yemen and armed groups in Iraq have announced they will stop attacks on Israel following news that Israel and Hamas have reached a ceasefire agreement in Gaza.
The news of the ceasefire has been welcomed by the international community. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said he was ready to support the implementation of the agreement and expand the scale of humanitarian aid. Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said the ceasefire was an important step towards regional stability. China's Foreign Ministry expressed hope that the ceasefire would be effectively implemented and lead to a complete ceasefire in Gaza. As for the US, President Joe Biden and his successor Donald Trump have both taken credit for their contributions to the efforts to get Israel and Hamas to sign the agreement.
15 long months
The war in Gaza has had a significant impact on the geopolitical landscape in the region. According to the AP, Israel can claim tactical victories after more than a year of fighting with Hamas, including eliminating senior leaders and dealing heavy blows to the militant group. At the same time, Hamas’s regional allies such as Hezbollah and Iran have also suffered some losses.
However, Israel still has an unfinished goal that it repeatedly emphasized at the beginning of the war: the complete defeat of Hamas. Several hostages have also died while being held in Gaza, including those who were shot by Israeli forces. The recent ceasefire negotiations have caused divisions within Israel, with people criticizing Prime Minister Netanyahu for putting political interests above the desire to return the hostages as soon as possible. On the other hand, moving towards a ceasefire has caused the Israeli leader to face opposition from the far-right coalition, which could threaten his position.
As for Hamas, this group believes that the attack on Israel on October 7, 2023 was in retaliation for Tel Aviv's actions in the disputed territories with the Palestinians. The above decision clearly drew the world's attention to the Palestinian issue in the region, but it also left serious damage in Gaza in terms of both people and property. According to Foreign Policy magazine on January 15, the reasoning for Hamas to agree to a ceasefire is quite clear. The group suffered great losses, which according to Israel were 17,000 Hamas gunmen killed, many tunnel systems and infrastructure serving Hamas in the war were destroyed, Hamas' influence also decreased in Gaza when the people suffered too much loss. However, experts say that as long as Hamas exists, it is still possible to reorganize its forces and restore its influence.
Damage in Gaza after 15 months of war
Gaza's health authority estimates that more than a year of conflict has left more than 46,000 Palestinians dead and more than 110,000 injured. The UN says 90% of homes in Gaza have been destroyed or damaged, and the constant fighting has displaced about 1.9 million Palestinians, or 90% of Gaza's population. Health, education, and food have become urgent issues in Gaza, with more than 1.2 million cases of respiratory infections recorded in 2024, more than 870,000 people facing severe food insecurity, and 660,000 school-age children without access to formal education. Even if a ceasefire takes effect, rebuilding Gaza will be a difficult task.
Source: https://thanhnien.vn/hoa-binh-dang-den-voi-trung-dong-185250116212001913.htm
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