As we wrote last week, Standing Together supports any steps towards stopping the killing and destruction in Gaza while also emphasizing the importance of continuing to work for a just and lasting peace.
On October 9, it was announced that both Hamas and the Israeli government had approved an agreement to implement the first steps of the plan announced the previous week.
These include:
• a ceasefire that began shortly after the agreement was signed.
• the entry of food and supplies into Gaza at a rate of 600 trucks per day
• the release of live hostages in Gaza and later also the handing over of the remains of those who died in captivity.
• the release of 2,000 Palestinian prisoners in Israel, including 250 who have been sentenced to long prison terms
• the withdrawal of Israeli troops to the so-called Yellow Line.
This is very encouraging news, something also emphasized by leading representatives of Standing Together. In a statement on October 9, Alon-Lee Green, national co-director of Standing Together said that all the actions taken and pressures exerted by Standing Together, and by other grassroots organizations in Israel and around the world, have borne fruit.
Sally Abed from the Standing Together leadership also commented on the news. While she has many conflicting feelings, she emphasizes that the fight must continue. Sally says:
”You know, this morning, we woke up to the news that we have prayed for, fought for, you know, really protested for for over two years.
But I am just going about my day really confused. There’s just so many feelings, you know it’s very easy to be cynical about this moment, because we know that the leaders that are leading it, that are initiating it, are not really, you know, wanting this, but we should also feel proud that we were able to make them say yes when they wanted to say no, and to be able to mobilize people and build that power and I need to remember that this cynicism is a privilege… to see the joy the kids in Gaza have about this ceasefire news is just incredible, but also incredibly sad to imagine them amongst all the ruins, you know, being able to find all that joy, to be able to see the moms and the families of the hostages you know being so excited to be reunited with their family members.
And we need to remember one thing amongst all of this confusion – that this is not over, whether it explodes in our faces, whether it goes actually through, we need to continue our fight. It is not over unless everyone is equal, unless we achieve a peace that is just and sustainable here.”