After 15 months of genocide and over 300,000 Palestinians brutally murdered, we have potentially reached a temporary ceasefire. Allahu Akbar.
To watch the Gazans celebrating, makes my heart lift. They deserve this respite and so much more. We don’t know the half of what they have each endured, even though this genocide was livestreamed on our screens. We on the outside will never know. Life for them can still change at the hands of the occupiers.
But we have to keep our trust in Allah swt.
My personal mixed emotions and I know many others who feel the same, should drive us to keep fighting.
Western Politics
We know how Western politics are, and with ego driven leaders they only play the game to suit themselves. Biden has only pushed this ceasefire now because he wants to leave office on 20th January 2025 with his name cleared. He already put a statement out on X that he did everything he could to keep peace in the Middle East.
Even though, we all saw and have kept evidence of how he kept funding Israel with military and humanitarian aid. How his government constantly vetoed any peace. How they shook hands and brokered deals with Netanyahu and his illegal state.
Biden, has spent his tenure and his life supporting Israel. In a 1986 Senate talk1 he admitted that,
“… Israel is the best 3 billion dollar investment the We make, and that if there were not an Israel, the United States of America would have to invent an Israel to protect her interests in the region.”
He gave Israel his full backing for this genocide. This is something we cannot forget. Western history books will teach our future generations differently. Making Biden the saviour. Righting all his wrongs, purifying his image just like they did Churchill. But it is our duty as fellow human beings to remind the world of his dealings with the devil.
Loopholes
I have my concerns when I look at the breakdown of the ceasefire deal.
With two potential loopholes for Israel to manipulate for their own gain. They have the full backing of the West, be it Biden or Trump. The ones behind this is AIPAC and they will do anything to keep their grip on a greater Israel.
We also know from previous times, Israel has not stopped even after a ceasefire. They will continue some form of attack on unsuspecting members of the public. Just take Lebanon as an example. When the ceasefire deal was struck, many Lebanese travelled back down to the south to go home. On their way they were shot and attacked by the IOF who claimed that the south of Lebanon now belonged to Israel. Pushing the Lebanese back into the centre of Lebanon. There was no condemnation from foreign entities and the IOF was not pushed to leave the borders of Lebanon.
Just yesterday – on 15th January 2025, after the ceasefire deal was agreed upon, Israel massacred 73 people in Gaza and injured more than 230 according to the enclave’s civil defence.2 This is a sore reminder that this is not a war but a genocide.
We are now hearing that Netanyahu and his cabinet are claiming with no legitimate proof that Hamas is rejecting the deal. In a statement, Netanyahu accuses Hamas claiming the below:
“Hamas reneges on parts of the agreement reached with the mediators and Israel in an effort to extort last minute concessions…the Israeli cabinet will not convene until the mediators notify Israel that Hamas has accepted all elements of the agreement.”
Where as in reality Netanyahu’s security cabinet does not want to agree to the conditions set in the ceasefire deal. With his coalition cabinet, specifically amongst the Religious Zionism Party headed by Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich. Who has claimed and been reported by Al – Jazeera that,
“This deal is bad for Israel and this party would need guarantees that Israel will go back to all-out fighting…after the initial phase of the agreement.”
Senior Hamas official, Izzat al-Risheq has confirmed in a statement on Telegram this morning after hearing Netanyahu’s accusations that,
“The Palestinian group is committed to the ceasefire agreement announced by mediators on Wednesday.”
This re-confirms that Hamas is not to blame for any delays. This is a constant tactic of the Israeli government to divert attention from internal issues. We need to keep in mind that every time a deal has come close, Netanyahu and the Israelis have backtracked or broken the deal whilst pushing the blame on Hamas. As they know that due to Hamas being listed as a ‘terrorist’ organisation they will get the full hit from the the International community, whilst Israel walks away scot free.
Potential Future Plans
The future plans for Gaza are not being explored by everyone yet, however Blinken – The top US diplomat has outlined a US ‘day after’ plan for Gaza that the Biden administration have come up with and that he will be passing across to the Trump administration to carry forward.
From this plan alone, you can already pin point that even though Israel will not have a clear presence in Gaza they will be represented by the PA – The Palestinian Authority. Now don’t be confused by their name, this doesn’t mean the PA is an ally to the Palestinians. No, they are actually a faction for the Israeli government that helps them to control the Palestinians. They are present in the West Bank and have recently upped their attacks, killings and arrests of Palestinians.
The plan set up by the Biden administration clearly states that the US, Israel, Egypt and Qatar will run Gaza. There is no mention of actual Palestinian control or handing over to Hamas. [Which we all know they will never do in reality].
What’s Next?
I, like others do not know what will happen next. We will have to wait and see how this ceasefire plays out. However, we also have to carry on keeping the Palestinian voices at the forefront.
Like you may have come across online, this Ceasefire is a celebration for the Gazans. The ones in Gaza right now. For everyone else on the outside, our work has only now begun.
For the last 15 months we have boycotted, educated, protested, and spoke up for Gaza and a Free Palestine.
This cannot stop.
We need to carry on. We need to hit harder, these companies, governments, leaders and the illegal state of Israel all need to know that we will not stop till Palestine is completely free from the clutches of oppression and Colonialism.
What Can You Do?
Carry on boycotting McDonald’s, Coca Cola, Starbucks and all the other brands making money off innocent people’s lives.
Keep protesting like before. Increase those numbers and make your voices heard.
Create strikes so it hits them where is hurts – the economy.
Continue to educate not just yourself but others. Your kids, family and friends, neighbours, work colleagues. Everyone you meet need to hear about Palestine and the Palestinian fight to freedom.
Be proud, wear that kuffiya, show the world you are not afraid to stand up for the truth. Becoming part of the resistance and revolution of change forever.
Lastly, keep making dua. Our duas are heard, the duas of our brothers and sisters in Palestine are heard. They do not go in vain. Keep talking about them in your khutbas, sermons and daily prayers.
Because only when Palestine is free and we dismantle Zionism will we all become free. All our fights are interlinked – so keep working together.
We do not have time for that, because people are relying on all of us on the outside to keep the pressure on, like we have been doing.
Keep the faith and add to your advocacy. We will break down more barriers if we all unite.
Continue to have eyes on Gaza and Palestine – this is an ongoing situation and the news is rapidly updating.
Palestinians will need your continued help and support. Keep donating to whichever cause you can. Even an amount your feel isn’t enough is still something. So dig deep.
One way you can support is by purchasing one of our Palate of Palestine – Watermelon Tote Bag, where all the profits go to Medical Aid for Palestinians [MAP]. Therefore you can continue your advocacy for the freedom and liberation of Palestine from where ever you are.
