A Critical Opportunity and an Urgent Necessity to End Daily Atrocities and Crimes Against Civilians
Mwatana for Human Rights welcomed the ceasefire agreement in the Gaza Strip announced on Wednesday, January 15, 2025. The agreement provides for a comprehensive ceasefire in Gaza and includes several other provisions, to be implemented in three phases starting Sunday, January 19, 2025.
Israel launched a large-scale war following the attack carried out by Hamas and other Palestinian factions on the Gaza Envelope and the occupied Palestinian territories. According to the latest statistics published by Human Rights Watch via Agence France-Presse, approximately 815 civilians were killed, including 79 foreign nationals, and dozens of hostages were taken. The Israeli forces waged a broad military campaign in Gaza that lasted around one year and four months, during which they committed various violations, including the gravest international crimes—war crimes, genocide, and crimes against humanity—flagrantly disregarding all international and humanitarian laws and norms. This occurred amidst lackluster and irresponsible engagement by the international community, allowing complete impunity for the perpetrators.
According to the Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics, the war resulted in 46,645 deaths in Gaza, including 17,841 children, 12,298 women, and 2,421 elderly people. The casualties also included 1,068 medical personnel, 204 journalists, 756 educational staff, 203 UNRWA employees, and 94 civil defense workers. The number of missing persons stood at 11,200, including 4,700 children and women.
The announced ceasefire agreement outlines three implementation phases. These include a prisoner exchange deal between Palestinian factions and Israel, opening the Rafah crossing for the transfer of wounded civilians and combatants, the return of displaced persons from southern Gaza to the north, the entry and organization of humanitarian aid, and a comprehensive ceasefire accompanied by the gradual withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza to the borders preceding October 7, 2023. The agreement also encompasses additional provisions aimed at restoring calm and peace in Gaza.
Radhya Al-Mutawakel, Chairperson of Mwatana for Human Rights, stated:
“The agreement to reach a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip is an extremely important step to safeguard civilian lives and end their suffering and the daily atrocities committed against them. It is also an opportunity to seriously consider sustainable peace solutions that guarantee Palestinians their fundamental rights, including the rights to life, movement, dignity, and self-determination.”
Al-Mutawakel added:
“It is now essential to intensify efforts to ensure accountability and prosecute those responsible for grave violations and international crimes committed against civilians during the war. This is vital for achieving lasting peace, deterring violators, redressing civilian victims, promoting justice, and putting an end to atrocities and crimes not only in Gaza but also in other parts of the world.”
Mwatana called on the parties to the agreement, represented by the Israeli government, Hamas, and other Palestinian factions, as well as the international community and the countries sponsoring the agreement, to support and bolster the ceasefire, ensuring the implementation of all phases and provisions it entails. This step is crucial for restoring peace, paving the way for accountability, reconstruction, and reparation. Mwatana emphasized that the implementation of this agreement marks the first step toward restoring peace after over a year and four months of war and continuous atrocities.
Mwatana also called for genuine and effective measures to ensure that the agreement is not violated, as well as enhanced efforts to achieve accountability and prosecute those responsible for violations against civilians, including international crimes. This includes establishing an independent international criminal investigative mechanism to investigate violations and crimes, gather and preserve evidence, and prepare for holding perpetrators accountable, thereby ending the prevailing culture of impunity.
