Nadene Goldfoot
The immediate goal of a ceasefire is to stop violence but the underlying purposes of ceasefires vary. Ceasefires may be intended to meet short-term limited needs (such as providing humanitarian aid), manage a conflict to make it less devastating, or advance efforts to peacefully resolve a dispute.
Humanitarian Aid? Was this ever used in any previous war like WWII? Did the Nazis care about people? Did we? Did the Japanese? We dropped the atomic bomb. Do our students know what drove the president to decide on that?
There are instances of prisoners of war (POWs) in both Ukraine and Israel, though the contexts and circumstances differ. In Ukraine, there have been major prisoner exchanges between Ukraine and Russia. In Israel, exchanges have occurred between Israel and Hamas, often as part of ceasefire agreements.
They can be agreed upon formally through treaties or informally through declarations. Ceasefires can also be unilateral, where one side declares a halt to hostilities without a corresponding agreement from the other side.
Invading is not a safe move, even for invaders.
Russo-Ukranian: The Kremlin has long tried to justify its invasion of Ukraine by claiming Nato is using the country as a proxy for war.; They are the attackers of Ukraine. On 24 February 2022, Russia invaded Ukraine, starting the largest and deadliest war in Europe since World War II, in a major escalation of the conflict between the two countries which began in 2014.
In 2014, a series of events led to a significant escalation in the relationship between Russia and Ukraine, culminating in armed conflict and the annexation of Crimea. Protests against the Ukrainian government in Kyiv, sparked by President Yanukovych's rejection of a closer economic deal with the EU, were met with violent crackdowns. This led to the president's flight in February 2014, followed by the seizure of Crimea by Russian forces. After a disputed referendum (vote), Crimea was formally annexed by Russia, and pro-Russian separatists in eastern Ukraine began to seize control of parts of Donetsk and Luhansk. The conflict has continued since then, resulting in a war in Donbas and a "frozen conflict" along the front line. (The eastern Ukrainians were turncoats!)
In May 2023, Donald Trump told the UK's GB news that as US president he would end the war within 24 hours, given that he had good relationships with the leaders of Ukraine and Russia. He added that it would be easy to conclude a ceasefire agreement to end the war. Moscow claimed the diplomatic development after Trump branded Putin “absolutely crazy” for a record-breaking drone attack on Ukraine, and the Kremlin said the US president was being "emotional". Mr Trump issued some of his sharpest criticism of Mr Putin after Russia fired 355 drones and nine missiles at Ukraine — the largest aerial attack of the more than three-year war. That was the answer to a possible cease fire.
We will not forget October 7, 2023 Hamas in a horrid surprise attacking Israeli homes and killing all the people they could near the Gaza border. The unsuspecting citizens were enjoying the end of a Jewish holiday with dancing outside; then slaughtered.
Israeli-Palestinian Conflict: An example of a ceasefire in the Israeli–Palestinian conflict was announced between Israel and the Palestinian National Authority on February 8, 2005. When announced, chief Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat publicly defined the ceasefire as follows: "We have agreed that today President Mahmoud Abbas will declare a full cessation of violence against Israelis anywhere and Prime Minister Ariel Sharon will declare a full cessation of violence and military activities against Palestinians anywhere." On November 21, 2023, Qatar announced that they had negotiated a truce between Israel and Hamas would pause Gaza war, allow for the release of some hostages and bring more aid to Palestinian civilians. As part of the deal. 50 hostages held by Hamas were released while Israel released 150 Palestinian prisoners. a ratio 3 to 1 in the Terrorists' favor. A temporary ceasefire between Israel and Hamas went into effect on November 24, 2023, not November 21, 2023. A temporary ceasefire between Israel and Hamas-led Palestinian militant groups in the Gaza Strip took effect from 24 November 2023 to 30 November 2023, during the Gaza war.
Since the October 7, 2023 attacks, there have been two ceasefires declared in the Gaza conflict:
- November 2023 Ceasefire: A temporary, four-day ceasefire was agreed upon in November 2023, which was later extended for two additional days. This ceasefire involved the exchange of hostages held by Hamas for Palestinian prisoners held by Israel, and also allowed for increased humanitarian aid to enter Gaza.
- January 2025 Ceasefire: A more comprehensive ceasefire agreement was reached in January 2025, involving a phased release of hostages and prisoners, and a planned negotiation for a more permanent end to hostilities. However, this ceasefire was broken in March 2025 when Israel launched new airstrikes and declared a resumption of combat.
- Israel's claim: Israel alleged that Hamas had violated the ceasefire agreement by failing to release a specific female Israeli civilian hostage, Arbel Yehoud, as stipulated in the deal.
- Israel's response: In response to this alleged breach, Israel retaliated by temporarily delaying the return of Palestinians to their homes in northern Gaza.
- Hostage Release: The situation was eventually resolved, and the hostage, Arbel Yehoud, was ultimately released.
- Hamas has said it will only release the hostages in exchange for a lasting ceasefire and an Israeli withdrawal. Then it said it would release 10 at one time, and the other ten (most likely only 20 alive) later. Aid trucks; from who, this is a problem-UN or private; Hamas steals the trucks, keeps the food, sells it at high prices, feeds themselves and doesn't concern themselves with their own people.
Money goes for ammunition and tunnels to use against israel, not food or medicine
- Hamas has used cease fires for their advantage: Regrouping and Resupply: A ceasefire can provide valuable time for a party to resupply troops, reorganize forces, and potentially strengthen their position for future engagements.
- Gaining a Military Advantage: A party might use the lull in fighting to reposition troops, improve defenses, or even prepare for a surprise attack, according to Wikipedia.
- 2. Political : It is well-known that a cease fire called by these terrorists are not aiming for peace. Hamas goals are to wipe out Israel completely. Attacks between Palestinians against Israel have been going on since Husseini was announced as the Grand Mufti of Jerusalem where he instigated attacks on the Jews in the 1920s. Israel has been shot at for the past 105 years by Palestinian terrorists/sympathizers!!!!!
- Gilad Shalit born August 28, 1986, an Israeli soldier, was captured by Hamas militants in a cross-border raid near the Kerem Shalom crossing in Israel on June 25, 2006. He was 20. He was held captive in the Gaza Strip for over five years (1,934 days). Hamas initially demanded the release of Palestinian prisoners in exchange for Shalit. Shalit was eventually released on October 18, 2011, as part of a prisoner exchange deal where 1,027 Palestinian prisoners were released in return. He holds dual Israeli and French citizenship, the latter via his grandmother.
- Ratio: 1,027/1 in Hamas's favor. Not fair at all. But saving one live person is likesaving the world, so our Rabbis say. The quote "He who saves one life saves the world entire" is a famous quote from the Talmud, the Jewish law code. It is also prominently featured in the movie Schindler's List, where it's displayed as a significant moral statement. In the film, the character Itzhak Stern explains that the quote is from the Talmud and emphasizes its importance.
- Here, it's like: can you put divisions in danger of their life to save but one? They've been doing just such things in their defensive fighting against terrorists that have multiplied coming from 7 zones, fighting and also trying to free the Israeli hostages whose number keep getting smaller as their lives are taken. They're being starved and beaten and raped. No humanitarian treatment here for them. Today is the 599th day of captivity.
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