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Gisha's statement regarding the ceasefire and hostage deal, which is set to begin on Sunday, January 19 [EN/AR/HE]

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At Gisha, we are hopeful but not optimistic about the ceasefire: Without a fundamental paradigm shift where Israel recognizes and fulfills its obligations to Palestinians living under occupation in Gaza as well as the West Bank, the war on Palestinian lives doesn’t end, it just continues in a different form.

For more than 15 months, Israel has waged the most destructive and widespread military assault on Gaza that the region has ever witnessed. It has been using starvation and displacement as weapons of war and collective punishment. It has denied civilians access to essential aid and goods needed for their survival and denied its obligations as both an occupying power and a party to the hostilities.

Tens of thousands of lives have been cut short, and hundreds of thousands of people have lost everything, and are living with unfathomable loss, permanent disability, and trauma. There must be accountability for crimes committed during this war to ensure we do not see a repeat of violations that have occurred.

Whether the ceasefire holds or not, all of the hostages must be released, and aid must be surged and allowed to reach all the parts of Gaza. Israel must lift the ban on commercial access, and allow exit of patients, foreign nationals, and others wishing to exit and return to Gaza and to all areas within the Strip. It must also allow access to Gaza for international humanitarian organizations, foreign journalists, and investigators.

The road ahead is long and full of challenges. People in Gaza will continue to struggle to survive and meet their needs amidst so much destruction – of homes, schools, businesses, and infrastructure. Gaza needs freedom of movement, so that people can begin to rebuild their lives in dignity and safety.