Ceasefire Now: Urgent but Insufficient
by Jonathan Kuttab
The world has spoken loudly and clearly. There is an urgent need for an immediate Ceasefire Now in Gaza—not a temporary “humanitarian pause” but an immediate and authentic ceasefire, one that allows for free and unimpeded flow of vital materials, water, food, medical supplies, goods and services, free movement to distribute to those in need without being bombed or fired upon, as well as an exchange of prisoners and hostages. The nations of the world (with the shameful exception of the thrice veto of the United States) have demanded it. Millions in the streets throughout the world, along with all of the United Nations, international relief agencies, health organizations and human rights organizations, have asked for a ceasefire. It is supported by overwhelming majorities in the United States as well, including, according to a recent poll, a majority of American Jews. Every additional day brings additional untold suffering. More civilians (as well as soldiers and fighters) are killed, a population is being starved, lives are destroyed and interrupted, the destruction of all aspects of life continues apace, and at least an additional one hundred of God’s children are killed every day while others are further traumatized and scarred for life. That a ceasefire is still “controversial” for some is beyond my comprehension.
Yet, a ceasefire is insufficient. It is merely the equivalent of removing one’s knee from the neck of a dying George Floyd or releasing the chokehold on Eric Garner as he wheezes out that he cannot breathe. It does not address the racism, the injustice, the police brutality, or even the alleged crimes and conditions that led to that knee being firmly planted on the neck of the victim.
After such a heavy toll, it is imperative that we also address the context and causes that preceded October 7: the siege of Gaza that must be lifted, the military occupation that strangles the rest of the occupied territories, the apartheid regime that governs the entirety of Palestine, the inherent racism and discrimination implicit and often explicit in the doctrine of Jewish supremacy, and the system that mandates Israeli-Jewish domination over the Palestinian people.
The issues inherent to such an approach are complex, it is true, but they can no longer be ignored. This is not only for the sake of Palestinians, but equally for the sake of Israeli Jews who have made Palestine their home and must come to terms with the indigenous people they are seeking to remove, to ethnically cleanse in order to make room for their Jewish state. A formula can and must be found which accommodates the existential needs of those on both sides.
The real lesson of October 7 is that no amount of overwhelming power, restrictions, or oppression will ever make Israelis safe; nor will it extinguish the desire of Palestinians to be free. Unleashing horrendous force on Gazans has resulted in massive destruction and untold suffering, but it has not made Israelis one iota more safe or secure. The desperation with which the Israeli army has attempted to “restore deterrence” has failed and it cannot succeed. Can friends of Israel help communicate that message to them instead of egging Israel on to seek the “total victory” its own army is now acknowledging can never be achieved? Even destroying each and every last Hamas fighter will not remove the underlying reasons causing the Palestinian people to continue to resist and demand their freedom.
Violence is not the answer, and it never has been. Yet it is so attractive and easy. For some reason, each side can garner a lot of support, demand incredible sacrifices, and invest massive resources into violent options under a variety of excuses. And, when it fails, the response is to redouble the efforts, to try and exact a higher price on the enemy, blame the other side, and enlist yet greater efforts to “achieve victory.” I in no way wish to imply that there is any symmetry here between Israelis and Palestinians, but there exists a curious feature of each side blaming the other while insisting that the enemy only understands the language of violence, that peace is impossible unless the other side totally surrenders, accepts defeat, and acquiesces to all of our demands and dictates.
We must break through this logjam and assert once and for all that violence is not the answer and that we must find a better way to move forward and seek solutions based on humanity, equality, mutual understanding and empathy, and ultimately on justice. This is the only path to pursue on “The Day After,” otherwise, we are doomed to repeat the same cycle.
Meanwhile, get that knee off our neck and demand Ceasefire Now!
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