The call by the United Nations General Assembly for “a sustained humanitarian truce leading to a cessation of hostilities” in Gaza is fully justified by the catastrophic collapse of everyday life there and the huge loss of life. It is made more necessary by Israel’s weekend launch of a ground campaign. Intense international diplomacy supporting Israel’s entitlement to self-defence against Hamas terrorism cannot disguise the urgency of the call. A truce would ease negotiations on releasing the Israeli hostages seized by Hamas. That could create political space for a longer-term ceasefire and in time for preparation of an international conference on the Israeli-Palestinian question.
News that desperate Gaza civilians are breaking into UN relief warehouses to seize food is shameful proof that elementary provisions for the 2.3 million population have broken down. UN representatives speak the language of catastrophe to demand relief from the fighting and opportunities to replenish food, energy and health supplies. In face of their pleas the Israeli government’s renewed objectives of total victory over and elimination of Hamas terrorism with a long war are rapidly losing it international support and diminishing acceptance by the Israeli public.
Such a total victory will be impossible without an utterly unacceptable loss of civilian life, is dubious militarily and fails to appreciate the uncomfortable fact that Hamas is a social movement and a government as well as a military machine. To say this is neither to justify Hamas’s reprehensible terrorism against Israeli civilians nor to underestimate its reactionary and racist ideology. It is to say Hamas must not be confused with the Gazan public or Palestinian public opinion. If it is so confused by the wartime government led by Benjamin Netanyahu, Israel’s own long-term legitimacy and credibility will be imperilled along with the lives so many Gazan civilians.
The UN General Assembly resolution passed on Friday did not mention Hamas; or Israel’s right to self-defence, even though most UN member-states voted for an amendment that would have inserted them. Its overall call for a humanitarian truce leading to a ceasefire nevertheless had the support of 120 members, with 14 voting against and 45 abstaining. The United States voted against and only eight European Union members were in favour, while 15 abstained. Ireland’s support for a ceasefire and a longer term two-state settlement of the Israeli-Palestinian settlement is consistent and honourable.
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These intense UN and EU diplomatic exchanges have clarified the issues polarising international opinion in an essential contribution to better understanding. It is now time to act on the calls for a humanitarian truce and a cessation of hostilities. Should they fail there is a real risk this war will escalate and become more dangerous.