This week, can Israel and Lebanon’s ceasefire hold? A return of South Sudan peace talks after a four-month hiatus. India’s congress prays for peace against anti-Hindu persecution in Bangladesh.
Can Israel and Lebanon’s ceasefire hold?
Last week, Israel and Lebanon finally came to a ceasefire after 14 months of fighting, only for the fighting to resume the next day. After the ceasefire was declared on November 27, Israel carried out an airstrike on November 28, saying in a statement that suspects had breached the conditions of the ceasefire by arriving in vehicles to areas of southern Lebanon.
The ceasefire now remains fragile, with both sides firing at each other. After Hezbollah fired two rockets at Israeli-occupied territory, Israel launched airstrikes across Lebanon’s South on December 2, killing nine. Meanwhile, the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) did not report any casualties from the mortar attack against them.
Whitehouse national security spokesperson John Kirby says that “Largely speaking… the ceasefire is holding,” BBC reported. However, Knesset member Israel Katz on December 3 told an IDF division near the Lebanese border, “If we return to war we will act with strength, go deeper,” CNN reported.
A return of South Sudan peace talks after a four-month hiatus
After four months and several delays, South Sudan peace talks are back. The talks between South Sudan’s government and opposition groups resumed in Kenya on November 3, Associated Press reported.
Although the 2018 peace agreement ended a five-year civil war that killed over 400,000 people, talks stalled after South Sudan’s President Salva Kiir sacked the former government delegation to the talks. The newly appointed team which replaced the delegation then was unable to travel to Nairobi on two different occasions.
The opposition groups that participated in the talks this week were not a part of the 2018 agreement. The agreement has still not been fully implemented.
India’s congress prays for peace against Hindu persecution in Bangladesh
India’s congress is praying for peace against the persecution of Hindus in Bangladesh. On December 5, congress members in Uttar Pradesh held a peace prayer titled ‘Buddhi Shuddhi Path,’ which included a fire ceremony.
The peace prayer was in response to atrocities committed against Hindus in Bangladesh following the country’s recent upheaval. Former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina resigned and fled to India amid widespread protests in August. Following Hasina’s resignation, there was a surge in attacks against Hindus, with over 100 Hindus and other minorities reportedly killed since the fall of the previous government.
Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus, who was chosen by student leaders, the military, and the president, has urged Bangladeshis to avoid violence and work towards national stability. Yunus has said that the attacks are politically motivated, and not religiously motivated. Hindus were viewed as supporting Hasina’s Awami party. However, Hasina has accused Yunus of being part of “genocide” against Hindus and failing to protect religious minorities.
Relations between Indian and Bangladesh have been spiraling, with Yunus accusing India of spreading misinformation about anti-Hindu violence in order to undermine his government.
Tara Abhasakun
Tara Abhasakun is a journalist in Bangkok. She has reported on a range of human rights issues involving youth protests in Thailand, as well as arts and culture. Tara's work has appeared in several outlets, including Al Jazeera and South China Morning Post.
