A ceasefire is an agreement between opposing sides (generally nations or groups of armed individuals) to temporarily stop fighting and military activities. It is often used to provide a setting in which to negotiate peace and undertake humanitarian endeavors like bringing more aid into a conflict zone. Ceasefires can be short-term or can lead to long-term agreements called armistices, which officially end all war activity.
The new Hamas-Israel ceasefire was brokered by Egypt and Qatar after months of heavy Israeli bombings of Gaza. It is based on a framework agreement announced by the Biden Administration in May 2024. While it contains many important components to improve living conditions in Gaza, including a commitment to release Israel’s last remaining Palestinian hostages and an end to Israeli airstrikes against Hezbollah and other FTOs in Lebanon, the situation remains tense and fragile.
Both sides will need to comply with the deal if it is to be successful. In the first days of the truce, Iran was reported to have conducted missile strikes in southern Israel, and Israel continues to report rocket attacks against its troops in northern Lebanon. There is also sizeable opposition to the ceasefire in Israel, and if the agreement fails, Israeli officials have threatened a full military response.
MSU regularly supports the United Nations by conducting a workshop for its staff and stakeholders on the mediation of ceasefire arrangements, drawing upon global experience. The 2022 edition of this workshop focused on planning considerations for preparing and supporting ceasefire negotiation processes and implementing a ceasefire arrangement once it has been agreed.