Gaza ceasefire must avoid disastrous mistakes of the past

Sent to the New London Day, December 26, 2024

Dear editor; 

The Day takes an extremely cynical view of Israel in the editorial "Peace is still possible" (Dec 25). Any sane ceasefire deal must require Hamas immediately release all the hostages – both living and dead. Despite holding them captive for nearly 450 days, Hamas hasn’t even provided a list of those being brutally held, hasn't allowed the International Red Cross to provide medical treatment for any of them and hasn't provided the names of those it has already murdered.

The Day is finger pointing at Israel for a peace agreement, but Israel and the United States have been at the table for more than a year working to get the hostages out. Right now, tens of thousands of Israelis are evacuated from border towns. Men and women are separated from their jobs and their families while being forced to defend Israel on the seven fronts its enemies have been attacking. The Israeli economy is feeling the impact of 14 months of war. Nobody wants a ceasefire more than Israelis, but they also recognize the need to get the ceasefire right, rather than implement another ceasefire that will enable Hamas and Hezbollah and only last until they feel empowered to once again break it and launch another devastating war.

Peace remains impossible without a fundamental transformation of Palestinian society, turning it into a society prepared to live in peace with Israel. The Day should place the onus where it belongs, the party unwilling to live in peace rather than Israel.

Sincerely,

Alan Stein

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