In November 2023, we welcomed the temporary ceasefire which saw the return of Israeli hostages, mainly women and children, who were held captive by Hamas, as well as much needed humanitarian relief for Palestinians in Gaza.
The atrocities committed by Hamas on October 7th precipitated a response by Israel, with the stated aim of removing Hamas from power, in order to prevent a repeat atrocity against Israelis. Clearly, no long-term ceasefire can hold whilst Hamas remains in power in Gaza, and the tens of thousands of Israelis displaced from the Gaza border won’t be able to return home without a cast iron assurance that they will be safe.
The current war is bringing unspeakable suffering to civilians in Gaza. Much of Gaza – north and south – is now in ruins. The strip is facing a tremendous humanitarian crisis, with over 20,000 people killed, over a million people facing starvation and the risk of an epidemic spreading due to the unsanitary conditions.
This conflict is too often treated as a zero-sum game, where the need for security for Israelis is in direct opposition to the right to life, freedom and dignity for Palestinians in Gaza. We refuse to accept this equation. It is possible to support the needs of Palestinians and Israelis.
The reality is that too many Palestinians are paying the price for Hamas’ crimes, and whilst Israel may succeed in weakening Hamas, the destruction of Gaza will result in a breeding ground for extremism, which won’t give Israelis security. On the contrary; with no end in sight, nor clarity for what happens once the war is over, hopelessness and hatred will take hold.
We do not believe the current war should continue. We re-iterate key policy demands that we believe could bring an end to these current hostilities:
- A further ceasefire must be agreed to allow all Israeli hostages to be released and humanitarian aid to be granted to civilians in Gaza – food, medicine, clean water and gas are all scarce.
- International forces should be deployed to help maintain security in the short-term. This would provide Israel with security assurances. Polling in Israel highlights that 60% of Israelis support this as an interim security measure.
- The international community must work to remove the Hamas leadership from power in Gaza – most likely through an arrangement with Qatar.
- The international community must work to reinstall functioning basic governing services in Gaza to allow the strip to function. 1.8 million people in Gaza will need to be temporarily housed and everything from rubbish collection to schooling must be considered.
- Agreements must be mediated to stop the ongoing escalation with Hezbollah in Lebanon and the Houthis in Yemen – both actors are linked to Iran, and are adding fuel to the conflict.
In the longer term:
- The long standing Israeli government policy of ‘strengthening Hamas to weaken the Palestinian Authority’ has failed the people of Israel, and it’s time the international community supported and strengthened the PA to allow governance in Gaza and sovereignty for Palestinians.
- It’s time to set the building blocks required to put the region on the path to a longer-term resolution.
- Gaza will need a Marshall Plan for its rebuilding that will require the Arab world, alongside the USA, the EU and other international actors to implement.
We recognise that Israel’s security is bound up with the Palestinian experience in Gaza. It has never been more clear that only a political process will achieve security and safety for Israelis, and freedom and dignity for Palestinians.
We call on the international community to shift the dial urgently to prevent immeasurable further suffering.
Read our position paper from 24 November below: