This week, Joe Biden put pressure on Israel and Hamas to agree on a ceasefire, by revealing a previously unreleased Israeli proposal that on paper achieves the short-term goals of both sides. North Korea’s actions led South Korea to end a 2018 military agreement, further raising tensions on the Korean Peninsula, while the 80th anniversary of D-Day provides a reminder of the cost of war and the importance of preserving peace, illustrated by the ongoing destruction caused by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Biden’s reveal of ceasefire plan adds pressure on Israel and Hamas
In an unexpected speech, US President Joe Biden laid out what he said was Israel’s latest ceasefire offer, and said that the war must end. Biden’s announcement, which revealed previously unknown details of Israel’s latest offer to Hamas, was a positive sign of renewed momentum in negotiations to end the war. However, as of yet no formal deal has been reached, while Israel’s airstrikes continue to hit civilian targets including schools, with one strike killing dozens on Thursday. However, there is only so much Biden and other mediating states, including Egypt can do, as both sides have stated their opposition to parts of the proposal. The heads of two far-right extremist parties which make up Israel’s governing coalition publicly opposed the deal, and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has not fully endorsed it, despite it being a plan developed by his war cabinet. Neither side has adjusted their stance on a potential permanent end to the war, which continues to be the main dispute blocking a ceasefire. Israeli officials and politicians insist that their war will continue after any ceasefire, while Hamas insists on a permanent end and full Israeli withdrawal as a condition of negotiations. The risk of yet another war between Israel and Hezbollah, continues to grow, as the two sides trade increasingly intense exchanges of fire along the Israeli-Lebanese border. A ceasefire is essential to protect Palestinian civilians, end the risk of another destructive war, and to create the conditions for a long-term resolution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
North Korea’s actions threaten peace on the peninsula
Peace continues to be elusive on the Korean Peninsula, as South Korea moved to cancel a 2018 agreement as a result of North Korea’s actions. Provocation from the North, one of the most repressive and closed states in the world, is nothing new. This week, thousands of balloons containing trash were sent to the South, which responded by ending a military deal made in 2018. While this further complicates the outlook for long-term peace and potential reunification, tensions are not as high as they were before the 2018 agreement was signed, when North Korea’s development of nuclear weapons and aggressive rhetoric led to fears of open conflict with South Korea and the United States. The North had stated that they were no longer bound by the 2018 pact last year, and had already resumed military activities along the border. The fact that the South has now done the same indicates that further tension between the two is likely, which could have dangerous consequences. North Korea announced that they would end balloon operations, but South Korea had already vowed retaliation, including leaflet drops and sending messages across the border with loudspeakers, tactics which can be highly effective in a totalitarian state where access to information is highly restricted.
D-Day anniversary is a sobering reminder of the fragility and necessity of peace
This week marks the 80th anniversary of D-Day, when Allied troops landed in Nazi-occupied France to begin the final stage of World War II in Europe. As world leaders and surviving veterans attend celebrations in Normandy, peace remains under threat both in Europe and around the world. Russia’s ongoing invasion of Ukraine, the first major land war between two European states in decades, has shown how fragile peace is in Europe, while ongoing wars in Gaza and Sudan are sobering examples of the dangers civilians face in times of war. Public statements by Russian leaders have fueled fear of further conflict, which could turn decades of hybrid war into open confrontation.. This week’s ceremony is a powerful reminder of the cost of losing peace, and the sacrifices required to preserve it.
