TPAN

You are by now probably aware of the ‘ceasefire’ announcement, and for the Palestinians of Gaza this ceasefire is a moment of respite from the continuous bombardment, shootings, abductions, torture and starvation committed by israel over the past 24 months.

But the trauma endured by Palestinians does not just come to an end with the announcement of a ceasefire. No one truly survives genocide, for every person martyred, there is a person amongst the living that will carry the physical and mental scars of genocide for years and generations to come. But in this moment, we hope Gazans can have a moment of relief and joy.

For the rest of us, celebration is premature. israel’s track record for violating ceasefire agreements is endless. Hezbollah and israel negotiated a US-brokered ceasefire agreement in November of last year. israel refused to fully withdraw and continues sporadic strikes on Lebanon, violating the ceasefire agreement over a hundred times since it came into effect. And let us not forget how the last US-brokered ceasefire agreement between israel and Hamas was violated by israel and how israel took the opportunity to increase aggression against Palestinians in the West Bank while the world was distracted by the news of a ceasefire in Gaza.

Western leaders are patting themselves on the backs for “brokering peace” with ceasefire negotiations but Palestinians should never have been put in a position to negotiate the end to their genocide. And let’s be real, this ceasefire is a bad deal that Palestinian’s have been forced to accept to stop their suffering but it by no means puts an end to israel's occupation. The deal has also conveniently emerged as israel is faced with global isolation. Millions of people around the world have woken up to the reality of zionism and its inherent racism and violence.

A ceasefire is not a favour, the prevention and end to genocide was always a moral and legal imperative and the responsibility solely rested on the political class of the international community. To this day, world leaders have refused to heavily sanction israel and refused to facilitate the arrest of Benjamin Netanyhu and Yoav Gallant, whom the ICC had brought charges against for crimes against humanity and war crimes. The international community has miserably failed to guarantee accountability and justice for the crimes of genocide and apartheid committed against the Palestinian people.

One of the worst things that could happen now is the end of public action. Remember a ceasefire is not the solution to Palestinian liberation, it's a pause to the genocide. It does not create lasting peace, let alone justice. It will not end the occupation nor dismantle the apartheid system that underwrites it. A ceasefire has never been the end goal. As long as Palestine is occupied, as long as Palestinians have no rights on their own land, as long as Palestinians are kept hostage as prisoners without trial or charge, as long as the Palestinians in the diaspora are not allowed to come home, our work is not done.

For far too long, israel and its accomplices have been allowed to act with total impunity. The political class across the globe has continuously defended and supported israel’s crimes against Palestinians and attacks on sovereign entities. They must be held accountable. It's time to escalate more than ever. israel and its accomplices cannot be trusted! Keep protesting, keep boycotting and divesting, continue to pressure the political class to take hard action and apply sanctions on israel. Stopping these actions means the end of hope, do not abandon the Palestinian people and their fight for liberation and self-determination. The Palestinian struggle is a global reminder that a future without colonialism is possible as long as we continue the fight. From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free.