One ceasefire back on; another one is failing

IRAN AND ISRAEL have declared that the ceasefire between them is back on. Israel will not attack Iran, and Iran will not attack Israel. The agreement comes after Iran fired missiles at Israel (in retaliation after Israeli attacks on Hezbollah targets in Lebanon) and Israel retaliated by bombing targets in Iran and on Sunday.

According to US President Donald Trump, the ceasefire was restored after he personally intervened. He says he phoned Israel’s Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, on Sunday, telling him not to attack Iran. The call came too late to stop the bombers that had already left to bomb Iran, but Trump stopped further bombers being sent out. This is all according to Trump. The idea that a plane, once it has started to fly, cannot be recalled is a strange one – as is Trump’s explanation that he ordered Israel not to retaliate because a “very, very good deal” will be finalised within days.

However… Iran has threatened to break the ceasefire and strike Israel again if Israel carries out more bombing in Lebanon. Netanyahu has greeted the ceasefire by stressing that Israel will not carry out further attacks on Iran, but the struggle is not finished – either in Iran or in respect of Hezbollah in Lebanon. We can hope that both sides are posturing, but Israel has form when it comes to wanting to deal with Iran and its supporters by achieving military victory.

●While attention is on the US-Israeli/Iran conflict, another ceasefire is being ignored. Israel bombs Gaza nearly every day. On 29th May, Netanyahu announced his intention to “take control” of 70% of Gaza – which is not provided for in the peace agreement that brought about the ceasefire. On Monday, 8th June Israel closed Gaza’s borders, stopping aid from getting through. Israeli spokespeople say that this is not a problem for Gaza, as it already has large stocks of food which can feed the population for weeks, if not months. Aid agencies on the ground deny this, saying that the aid which was coming through did not meet daily needs, let alone leave a surplus for storage.

Living conditions are still appalling. Many Gazans live in temporary shelters in areas without sewage treatment systems and which are over-run with rats. There is some food, but almost no cooking oil or fuel to make bread or hot food. Water is in short supply. Medicines and medical equipment are in short supply, with Gazans reporting many cases of skin diseases.

In other words, while the world continues to look away, the genocide continues.

●Read more about it:
Trump in trouble over imaginary peace plan
Rubio hints Iran peace plan may be in sight