VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

Finally, after a series of fierce battles since Tuesday 12 November and killing 34 Palestinians, the Islamic Jihad Militant Group announced a ceasefire agreed with Israel. Islamic Jihad militant spokesman, Musbab Al-Berim said that the ceasefire came into effect on Thursday November 14 at 5:30 local time. Unfortunately, there has been no confirmation from Israel at the ceasefire. Fierce fighting between Israel and Islamic Jihad broke out on Tuesday 12 November morning after an Israeli air strike killed a Senior Islamic Jihad Militant Commander, Material Abu el-Atta who was thought to be responsible for a series of rocket attacks and planning large-scale attacks. If Islamic Jihad considers that a ceasefire agreement had been reached, the Israeli side did not comment at all. The Islamic Jihad group submitted a list of demands, including that Israel stop the targeted attacks on Islamic Jihad militant leaders and open the blockade on Gaza, that has been in place for the past 12 years.

The Gaza militant ceasefire agreement with Israel mediated by Egypt almost never ends smoothly. A truce is rarely recognized by Israel. Even last year, exactly 15 November 2018, Israeli Minister of Defense, Avidgor Lieberman announced his resignation from the right-wing coalition government led by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Avidgor protested the ceasefire in Gaza at that time. He instead asked Israel to be more aggressive in Gaza.

Learning from the previous conditions, it is appropriate for the international community to be pessimistic about the ceasefire reached in Gaza today. The presence of international institutions, especially the UN peacekeeping force is jointly needed to ensure the peace realization between Palestine and Israel in Gaza.