The Gaza ceasefire affords an opportunity for Arab and international peace efforts to reach a just settlement for the Palestinians, argues Doaa El-Bey The ceasefire in Gaza, even if only temporary, could see Arab, Islamic and international mediation in order to agree on a settlement of the Palestinian issue in a way that would spare the Palestinians another war, given the massive casualties in Gaza during the 22-day Israeli aggression on the Strip and the stifling economic blockade still in place. The Palestinian political daily Al-Quds wrote that the resistance factions responded positively to Arab and international peace efforts by accepting the ceasefire. They also declared that they were open to all peace initiatives by Egypt, Turkey, Qatar and Syria to stop any future Israeli aggression and lift the blockade. The newspaper believed the ball is now in the Arab and international courts to either make use of the relative calm and try to reach a fair agreement or leave the arena for the biased US and Europe role that is likely to lead to another explosion in Gaza. The repercussions of the Israeli war against Gaza and the huge number of casualties is a trump card in the hands of Egypt, Turkey, Syria, Jordan and other parties to pressure Israel to lift the blockade and open the crossings. An Arab and Islamic role is required at that stage to rebuild Gaza, treating the injured and helping the families of those killed. The editorial emphasised that history will not forgive Arab and Islamic leaders if they fail to stand by the Palestinians to create a new reality on the ground that would stop Israel from controlling the destiny of Gazans or attacking them anew. More important, "Gaza's steadfastness should prompt a Palestinian-Arab move, first to unite Palestinians and second to urge the international community to end the occupation and establish a Palestinian state," the editorial read. The United Arab Emirates independent political daily Al-Bayan wrote that the Israeli ceasefire is far from what should be done given the current circumstances. The aggressor declared a ceasefire while his hands are still pressing the trigger and ready to shoot at his own convenient time. The editorial ruled out the theory that Israel resorted to a ceasefire for humanitarian reasons, else it would not have killed more than 1,320 innocent women and children, and repeatedly shot up schools and hospitals, including the UNRWA centre, in the first place. The editorial read that from the ceasefire, Tel Aviv aimed to kill more than one bird by the same stone. First, it wanted to dampen world anger ignited by its genocide against Gaza. Second, it aimed to avoid a comprehensive settlement that could include withdrawing from Gaza, opening the crossings and ending the blockade. In addition, its unilateral declaration might increase the state of division in the Palestinian and other Arab arenas especially because it came shortly before the Kuwait summit. Lastly, it could impede the Security Council from issuing another resolution that stipulates a mechanism to execute Resolution 1860. However, the editorial pinned high hopes on the Kuwait summit. "After all the rifts caused by the Israeli holocaust in Gaza, a unified Arab stand in the Kuwait summit is the only way to thwart Israel's plans and force it to abide by a realistic settlement." Like Al-Bayan, the Omani political daily Oman demanded a unified Arab stand. The Kuwait summit, according to the newspaper, should shed light on the Israeli crimes in Gaza and show the world its unified support for the Palestinian people who are demanding their legitimate rights according to international law. The editorial expected the summit to create the basis for wider Arab economic cooperation. "The Arab peoples are looking to the summit to depict a framework of economic integration among Arab states because economic cooperation and détente are likely to lead to more political détente," the editorial concluded. The Tunisian political daily Al-Shorouq also called for a unified Arab stand. Although the summit would earmark some $2.5 billion to rebuild Gaza, the Strip is in more need of a strong political Arab stand that buttresses its brave steadfastness against Israel. And that, according to the newspaper, should be the first mission of the summit. It is clear that Israel at the present phase is trying to achieve victory by reaching an agreement that shackles the resistance and maintains the blockade against Gaza. An agreement that is likely to be imposed on the Palestinians by Israel would bank on US support, European silence and the pressure Tel Aviv and Washington put on some Arab states. Thus, although Gaza is now in need of Arab financial support, it is in more urgent need of a strong unified Arab stand that would support the Palestinians and persuade the injured and widowed that they should not lose hope or faith in the Arab nation. "After all the ebb and flow that the Arab arena has witnessed lately, the summit should be the framework that gathers all Arab leaders. They are required to reach decisions that match the magnitude of the crisis in Gaza," the editorial read. It also called on the summit to contain anything that could increase the rift between Palestinian parties or cause division within the Arab arena. Bassem Abu Sumaya hailed the heroic role of Gazans in the war. Abu Sumaya wrote in the Palestinian political daily Al-Hayat Al-Jadida that neither the Palestinian resistance sheltered in trenches and underground passageways, nor the media, nor the Doha summit brought the ceasefire, but the legendary steadfastness of Gazans plus international and diplomatic pressure. He was not impressed by the temporary ceasefire and believed that it should be substituted by a complete and reciprocal truce and a full Israeli withdrawal from Gaza. A unilateral or temporary halt to the violence is likely to widen the scope of war and give Israel a free hand to assassinate political and military Palestinian leaders. The Gaza siege underlined the horrors of war as a result of the Israeli aggression. Whether the war stops or resumes, it is not easy to find a winner and loser. But the Palestinian Authority could be the biggest loser because Israel declared on the second day of the war that its goal was not to eliminate Hamas but to weaken it in a way that would make it easier for Tel Aviv to negotiate with it any future arrangements. By the support of the US and its Arab allies, Israel would be able to bypass the PA which constitutes an obstacle in the way of any temporary solutions. "But it will soon transpire that the PA as well as other Palestinian parties and political groups could be the biggest losers."
