Ceasefire Deal? The Devil's in the Details
While headlines tout a breakthrough ceasefire in Gaza, Rev. Mark Davidson warns against premature celebration. This searing blog post unpacks how the Netanyahu regime, with support from the incoming Trump administration, may be using the deal to cement authoritarian gains—from West Bank annexation to long-term arms deals—while continuing to oppress Palestinians with impunity. Mark calls on us to remain skeptical, vigilant, and committed to justice, reminding readers that true peace must be rooted in decolonization—not political spectacle.
Rev. J. Mark Davidson, Executive Director
1/17/20252 min read
The hype emanating from the Biden Administration, the incoming Trump administration, and mainstream news outlets, would have us believe that a landmark ceasefire deal has been reached. Surely an end to Israel’s genocidal assault on Gaza, a prisoner/hostage exchange, and bring massive humanitarian aid into Gaza are right around the corner. I admit a part of me really wanted to believe it. But I remained skeptical. While some have already cued the confetti drop, the celebrations are, unfortunately, misguided. The reality is that the extremist Netanyahu government never wanted any of these outcomes, has undermined Biden’s ceasefire proposal since last May, and may yet reject it. If they do, they will perpetuate the lie that it was Hamas, not Israel, that killed the deal. Meanwhile, Israel will continue to slaughter the innocents in Gaza.
Why, you may wonder, would the genocidal Netanyahu regime accept a ceasefire deal? There are troubling reports from independent journalists close to the negotiations: in exchange for Netanyahu’s agreement on the ceasefire deal, the incoming Trump administration promised Netanyahu several “sweeteners” that will delight his fascist colleagues:
* the right to violate the ceasefire whenever they wish without facing any negative consequences (as they have in the so-called “ceasefire” with Lebanon),
* a green light for the annexation of the West Bank,
* a new long-term arms and tech deal that will ensure Israeli military dominance for decades to come,
* adding the big prize of Saudi Arabia to the Abraham Accords, and
* the lifting of Biden-era sanctions on extremist settlers.
In other words, sign the deal, give Trump a “win” as he starts his presidency, get some hostages out, release some Palestinian prisoners (which you can always re-arrest), and get everything else you’ve always wanted.
It is certainly possible that there will be some desperately-needed short-term relief for the beleaguered people of Gaza, and I dearly hope they get the respite they so richly deserve from the death and destruction of the past 467 days. It is shameful that it has gone on so long. A ceasefire was possible in the first week. The failure of the Biden administration to use the leverage it had to force Israel into a ceasefire cost thousands of Palestinians to lose their lives needlessly. Moreover, new polls (Yougov) indicate the failure of the Democrats to end the violence in Gaza was the largest factor in 2020 Biden voters not voting for Harris. This failure caused Americans to be facing another four years of Trump’s authoritarianism and kleptocracy.
Meanwhile, let us stay vigilant and keep working for a decolonized future for Palestine. As Dr. King taught us, genuine peace is not merely the absence of violence, but the presence of justice. May it be so. However long it takes.