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Hamas has reportedly rejected an Israeli proposal for a six-week ceasefire in Gaza that called for the group to disarm, according to a senior Palestinian official involved in the negotiations. The plan allegedly proposed the release of roughly half of the remaining hostages held by Hamas but included no commitment from Israel to end the war or withdraw troops from Gaza.
This is believed to be the first time Israel has made Hamas disarmament a condition for a ceasefire, marking a significant shift in its negotiating stance. Speaking to the BBC, the Palestinian official also accused Israel of using the talks to stall while focusing solely on retrieving hostages.
Meanwhile, the humanitarian situation in Gaza continues to deteriorate. A UN agency described current conditions as the worst since the conflict escalated 18 months ago. According to the latest estimates, 59 hostages remain in Gaza, with 24 believed to be alive.
Also known as a truce or armistice, "ceasefire" is a term used to mean a temporary stoppage of a war in which each side negotiates an agreement to cease hostilities and take other steps to calm things down. But what exactly is a ceasefire, and how does it really work?
Click through for a better understanding.
Virtually as old as conflict itself, a ceasefire is a way of formalizing a halt to armed violence between warring parties for a certain period of time.
When it comes to international law, there are no provisions relating specifically to when ceasefires should be negotiated, what they need to contain, or how they need to be applied.
In the last 50 years or so, a range of new terminology has become commonplace to describe a ceasefire. Some common ones you might have heard include: humanitarian pauses, safe zones, cessation of hostilities, de-escalation areas, days of tranquility, and windows of silence.
Ceasefires may be declared as part of a formal treaty, but also as part of an informal understanding between the different sides.
Ceasefires may occur via mediation, or as part of a peace process. They may also be imposed by United Nations Security Council resolutions via Chapter VII of the United Nations Charter.
The immediate goal of a ceasefire is to stop violence, but the underlying purposes of ceasefires can vary.
Ceasefires may be intended to meet short-term limited needs, such as humanitarian aid. They may also be implemented in order to advance efforts to peacefully resolve a dispute.
But a ceasefire may not always work as a peaceful resolution. Instead, it can give one of the actors an upper hand, allowing time for rearming and repositioning forces, or attacking unsuspectingly.
Several factors affect the durability of a ceasefire, such as demilitarized zones, the withdrawal of troops, third-party guarantees, and monitoring.
Ceasefire agreements are more likely to be durable when they reduce incentives for violence, uncertainty about the adversary's intentions, and when preventions are implemented to prevent accidents from spiraling into conflict.
By one estimate, from 1989 to 2020, there were at least 2,202 ceasefires across 66 countries in 109 civil conflicts. Sarajevo is pictured here after a ceasefire in 1996.
Historically, the concept of a ceasefire has existed since the Middle Ages, when it was known as a "truce of God." Click on to read up on some notable ceasefires.
During World War I, on December 24, 1914, there was an unofficial ceasefire on the Western Front as France, the UK, and Germany celebrated Christmas.
Known as the Christmas truce, accounts claimed the unofficial ceasefire took place throughout the week leading up to Christmas. About 100,000 British and German troops exchanged seasonal greetings between their trenches.
Beginning when German soldiers lit Christmas trees, it quickly spread up and down the Western Front. The war resumed after a few days.
On November 29, 1952, US President-elect Dwight D. Eisenhower went to Korea to see how to end the Korean War.
But the Korean People's Army (KPA), the People's Volunteer Army (PVA), and the UN Command only signed the Korean Armistice Agreement on July 27, 1953. As a result, the fighting ended. But with no peace treaty signed between North and South Korea, the two countries are still technically at war.
On New Year's Day, 1968, Pope Paul VI convinced South Vietnam and the US to declare a 24-hour-truce. However, the Viet Cong and North Vietnam didn't follow through and ambushed the 2nd Battalion, Republic of Vietnam Marine Division, in the city of Mỹ Tho. They also attacked a US Army support base near Saigon.
On January 15, 1973, President Richard Nixon ordered a ceasefire in North Vietnam. The decision came after Henry Kissinger, the National Security Advisor, returned to Washington, D.C. from Paris, with a draft peace proposal. However, combat missions continued in South Vietnam.
By January 27, 1973, all parties of the Vietnam War signed a ceasefire via the Paris Peace Accords.
After Iraq was driven out of Kuwait by US-led coalition forces during Operation Desert Storm, Iraq and the UN Security Council signed a ceasefire agreement on March 3, 1991.
However, because no peace treaty was signed after the Gulf War, the war was still in effect until 2003, when US and UK forces invaded Iraq.
A UN-mediated ceasefire was agreed on between India and Pakistan, on January 1, 1949, ending the Indo-Pakistani War of 1947, also known as the 1947 Kashmir War.
The Irish Republican Army (IRA) held several Christmas ceasefires during the Northern Ireland conflict.
The 2020 global ceasefire was a response to a formal appeal by United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres (pictured), as part of the United Nations' response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
On July 1, 2020, the UN Security Council, with the support of 172 Member States and Observers, passed a resolution demanding a general and immediate global cessation of hostilities for at least 90 days.
A conflict that dates back to 1948, various attempts have been made to resolve it as part of the Israeli–Palestinian peace process.
An example of a ceasefire in the Israeli–Palestinian conflict was announced on February 8, 2005. Chief Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat (pictured) defined the ceasefire as such: "We have agreed that today President Mahmoud Abbas will declare a full cessation of violence against Israelis anywhere and Prime Minister Ariel Sharon will declare a full cessation of violence and military activities against Palestinians anywhere."
Despite the recent ceasefire that temporarily paused the Israel-Hamas conflict, significant challenges remain in achieving lasting security and stability for both Palestinians and Israelis.
See also: Afghanistan since 9/11
Hamas rejects Israeli proposal linking ceasefire to disarmament
Proposal offered hostage release but no end to war or troop withdrawal, Palestinian official says
LIFESTYLE Ceasefire
Hamas has reportedly rejected an Israeli proposal for a six-week ceasefire in Gaza that called for the group to disarm, according to a senior Palestinian official involved in the negotiations. The plan allegedly proposed the release of roughly half of the remaining hostages held by Hamas but included no commitment from Israel to end the war or withdraw troops from Gaza.
This is believed to be the first time Israel has made Hamas disarmament a condition for a ceasefire, marking a significant shift in its negotiating stance. Speaking to the BBC, the Palestinian official also accused Israel of using the talks to stall while focusing solely on retrieving hostages.
Meanwhile, the humanitarian situation in Gaza continues to deteriorate. A UN agency described current conditions as the worst since the conflict escalated 18 months ago. According to the latest estimates, 59 hostages remain in Gaza, with 24 believed to be alive.
Also known as a truce or armistice, "ceasefire" is a term used to mean a temporary stoppage of a war in which each side negotiates an agreement to cease hostilities and take other steps to calm things down. But what exactly is a ceasefire, and how does it really work?
Click through for a better understanding.