Sameera Casmod | sameerac@radioislam.co.za
20 January 2025 | 12:39 CAT
3-minute read

In a nutshell:

• The first day of the Gaza truce agreement began tensely, with a delay from 8:30 a.m. to 11:15 a.m., caused by disputes over prisoner lists and continued Israeli surveillance.
• The truce brought mixed emotions—joy and relief for released prisoners and returning families, contrasted with painful discoveries of lost loved ones amid devastation.
• Hamas asserted governance in Gaza, demonstrating full municipal operations, which unsettled both Israeli commentators and the Palestinian Authority.
• Uncertainty surrounds the deal’s future, with concerns over Israel’s potential return to war, internal political pressure, and challenges posed by densely repopulated northern Gaza.

Sunday marked the first day of a ceasefire after 15 months of Israel’s brutal onslaught on Gaza. The first prisoner exchange, which included three Israeli females from Gaza and 90 Palestinians from Israeli jails, was successful.

At first, the ceasefire was delayed. Hamas was unable to submit a list of the three prisoners of war they planned to release because Israel failed to suspend surveillance drones and bombardment in the hours preceding the ceasefire.

“Hamas was forced to submit the list under fire and under spy drones. This was a technicality that the Israelis exploited to get further intelligence on where the captives are being held,” Moulana Ebrahim Moosa said on this week’s Palestine Report.

Despite the delay, footage from Gaza reveals joy and relief among a people who have proven their resilience and steadfastness time and again over the decades. Gaza’s streets were filled with people chanting, singing and calling the Takbeer, while hundreds of thousands of people made their way back to the remains of their homes. In stark contrast to the elation were the painful discoveries of lost loved ones amid the ruins of what once was home.

Hamas swiftly resumed governance in the enclave, and despite over a year of enduring Israel’s brutal assaults, the group’s military and political structure is intact. Municpal workers repaired roads, police patrolled the streets in uniform, and the Al Qassam Brigades mobilised publicly.

“The municipality was back in full force preparing roads for the return of displaced citizens, police officers in their uniforms, members of the Al Qassam Brigades out in force,” Moulana Moosa said, adding that these scenes have struck a painful chord with the Israelis, with one political analyst on Israeli i24 News questioning the results of the prolonged onslaught: “What have we achieved in a year and five months? We destroyed many homes, lost many of our best soldiers, and in the end, the result is the same: Hamas rules, aid enters, and the Qassam Brigades return.”

The agreement is fraught with uncertainty, and fears of Israel’s potential return to genocide continue to mount after Netanyahu declared that he holds written confirmation from both Biden and Trump that guarantees Israel’s right to return to war after Phase 1 of the agreement, which is set to last 42 days.

However, renewing the war without securing the release of all Israeli prisoners—66 remain in Hamas’ custody—could fuel public outrage in Israel. Polls show a growing desire among Israelis to end the conflict and focus on economic recovery. Moreover, the Israeli army faces fatigue, with declining reservist participation.

Hamas believes it has firm guarantees from mediators, including Egypt, Qatar, and the United States. Whether these guarantees will be honoured remains unclear. Mediators are expected to meet on the 16th day of the ceasefire to discuss the next phase. Public pressure and international advocacy will be critical in ensuring that the truce does not collapse into renewed violence.

As Gaza’s displaced population begins to repopulate northern regions, the next few days will determine whether this fragile peace can endure. For now, a brief reprieve from bloodshed offers hope, but the shadow of war still looms.

Listen to the Palestine Report on Sabaahul Muslim with Moulana Sulaimaan Ravat.