The Palestinian Ma’an news agency featured a report today on its English language website that provides an overview of how both Palestinian and Israeli newspapers have been responding to the ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas, which took effect in Gaza on Thursday morning.
People on both sides have voiced some skepticism as to whether the Egyptian-mediated truce will last. However, the general consensus appears to be, for the time being, that both Palestinians in Gaza and their Israeli neighbors are relieved by the respite from hostilities. In fact, Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh (pictured above) reportedly took the time to play football at an indoor arena in Gaza. According to Ma’an, the picture appeared in the Israeli Ma’ariv daily under an article entitled, “He left the trenches”.
One potential sticking point, highlighted in Al-Jazeera's coverage of the ceasefire, is Israel's refusal to give in to Palestinian demands for the cessation of hostilities to be extended to the West Bank. According to Al-Jazeera, Israel stressed that it must be allowed to conduct security operations in the West Bank against militants. Thus, while all major Palestinian factions have voiced their commitment to the truce, the potential for the outbreak of violence is still very real in the West Bank. An analyst for Al-Jazeera suggests that groups based in Gaza may retaliate if operations against militants in the West Bank result in Palestinian casualties.
Such a scenario would perhaps test the ability of the leadership of the various Palestinian factions to maintain control over their subordinates, and the ability of the factions to remain united in adhering to the ceasefire. The failure to do so would jeopardize the much needed truce in Gaza, which could then result in the reimplementation of a crippling economic embargo, as well as a resumption of violence between Palestinian groups and Israel.
