They managed to negotiate and implement a "pause". And while the cessation of hostilities, even if only temporary, is better than not having that - I want to remind us about what I thought about this when it first starting looking like a possibility.
So that's the future then. We're possibly getting a break in hostilities - long enough for more reporting about the conditions in Gaza to get out. We'll see how dire the situation is. And then we will be told to support a return to bombing. And the brain geniuses running this show will support the return to bombing.
They are going to break our hearts and then let us know that it is time for more. It's like scuttling the landing boats before advancing. There's a remote possibility that the outrage of starting the bombs again might make them think twice. This is my hope - that the public will demand a stop to the war. But sadly, the fucking ghoulish monsters in charge are the stupidest fucking morons. As I have been saying for a month now, while I wish with all my heart that I am wrong - it's going to get worse, and stay worse for a long time.
I still think that the return to violence is going to be the worst part of it all. The psychological damage is going to be immense. That said, let me admit my errors here and try to correct them now that I know better.
I had thought that the pause would allow media to bring us more stories about how bad things are. It did. The images coming out of Al Shifa are terrible. But, this is not changing anyone's mind. The stories we were getting from before the pause were also bad enough that we did have a good idea of how terrible things were. OTOH, the only international reporters in Gaza were embedded with the IDF - maybe the pause opened up these stories to more audiences - exposing more people to the truth of the suffering Israel is inflicting upon 2 million people. Lol. I guess I still am naive and innocent. This clearly did not happen - the lack of honest and fair reporting from the mainstream media of the conditions in Gaza was not due to lack of reporters on the ground. It is a choice made by the people running those media firms. The only movement that I am aware of in how this was getting covered is the NY Times piece comparing the Gaza death rate to other conflicts. So my bad. Mea culpa. I got that wrong.
Speaking of naive and innocent - here's the other part I got wrong. That the bombing would start again. And no, this isn't just me trying to manifest a ceasefire. The pause isn't over yet, and there are some reports of the truce being extended - but that is not what I was referring to. I was talking about the West Bank, Lebanon, and Syria. The bombing has not stopped.
Which finally brings me to the point of this post. Israel is still doing their level best to confirm many of the worst beliefs about them. I really cannot make it more clear than this:
My instructions are clear: there are to be no expressions of joy
Also, so that we have some context here - sometimes the released Palestinian prisoners are 85% minors. This in addition to the increased aggression at the West Bank and towards the neighbouring states. Also, Israel is already trying to implement checkpoints in Gaza, collecting data and shooting people (because that's what humanitarian pauses are supposed to look like I guess?). It's a testament to how horrific the war campaign was that shooting at civilians trying to return to their homes is considered as being consistent with a "truce".
On the other side, Hamas delayed the release of some prisoners by several hours, claiming that Israel was not abiding by the conditions by refusing passage of aid trucks to the north. Which was the case, but apparently was "technical in nature" - which allowed the exchange to go off as normal. Under the deal, 50 hostages were supposed to be released in the four day span. They released 24 hostages on Day 1. Day 2 was the delayed release and consisted of 17 hostages. The third batch was another group of 17. That's 48 58 (/edit). Reports from Israel are that the hostages are in "good" shape. There have been no tales of torture or mistreatment. OTOH, you can probably guess how Israel treats Palestinian prisoners. And it would be beyond surprising if their treatment improved after October 7.
To be clear - Hamas is still a terrorist organization. They should not be given "credit" for meeting the bare minimum standards or care for hostages - innocent hostages that they kidnapped during a terrorist attack that killed hundreds. Hamas is not the good guys here. BUT - and this is the point that the world seems intent on ignoring - the government of Israel has failed to meet this standard.
So that's where we're headed - one side making best efforts to meet the conditions of the temporary truce, and the other side - not that. And then the truce runs out - and Israel will have no excuse to resume bombing. Hamas will have held up their end of the bargain - even though it is clear that Israel has not. The pressure to extend the truce has got to be enormous now - so great that I'm starting to wonder if it will get pushed into something more permanent. But that's probably just me being naive and innocent again.
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