Gaza conflict gets worse by the day

By Sureshni Pilapitiya

The situation between Israel and Palestine seems be getting from bad to worse, because no sooner than a 72 hour humanitarian ceasefire was established, it has collapsed within 2 hours , with fierce fighting in the south of the enclave , the latest sources reports of a missing Israeli soldier and a formal military announcement that Israel would resume it's military operation. Both countries had the dispute for many years , and though they tried to negotiate through peace talks nothing worked out. But this tit it reached it's peak, when the real battle started since the 8th of July , with

thousands of civilians from both sides being killed , who are not aware of anything about the battle for power and possession. As for the civilians , they just want to live a normal , peaceful life with out high expectations , but because of the clash between the two nations , the innocent have to suffer. This historic struggle between the Israelis and Palestinians began in the mid-20th century.[1] The conflict is wide-ranging, and the term is sometimes also used in reference to the earlier sectarian conflict in Mandatory Palestine, between the Zionist yishuv and the Arab population under British rule. The Israeli-Palestinian conflict has formed the core part of the wider Arab-Israeli conflict. It has widely been referred to as the world's "most intractable conflict".

Despite a long-term peace process and the general reconciliation of Israel with Egypt and Jordan, Israelis and Palestinians have

failed to reach a final peace agreement. The remaining key issues are: mutual recognition, borders, security, water rights, control of Jerusalem, Israeli settlements, Palestinian freedom of movement, and resolving Palestinian claims of a right of return for their refugees. Those are the main issues and without solving them in a more diplomatic manner they have taken the other option, that is , to solve them with arms and weapons . This issue between the two nations have raised a lot of views and discussions among the society, including all nations , state leaders, diplomats ,intellectuals, human rights organisations and other high officials . But apart from giving statements and condemning the brutal attacks , they have failed to give a final resolution to this matter, which has been dragging on for years. The conflict has been a major topic for human rights issues , but now

human rights have lost the true value of its title , its only a namesake title according to the modern world. Whenever something

happens anyone can raise a question about human rights issues, but the problem is , are human rights being honestly being put intoaction ? Are the correct people getting benefits out of it ? What has happened to the diplomatic issues, foreign policies of these war affected countries ? The same issue seems to be going on between Russia and Ukraine , after Russia took over Crimea , in the South Western area of Ukraine. The public talk about human rights cases , but it has only become a common subject without any particular meaning , being discussed over and over again.

From where this will end? when will it end ? is there no way of putting a stop to this gruesome encounter? the hard work of the US government and also the UN seem to have been in vain, according to the latest developments. The US has issued statements regarding the crisis , and the US President Barack Obama has said that the Hamas should be held responsible for the collapse of the ceasefire and has demanded that the militant group immediately release Goldin , the missing Israeli soldier. He had further stated that the US was doing everything possible to prevent the deaths of the Palestinian civilians , which he called ''heart breaking''. Indeed, this is heart breaking. But is that all ? more than that, it is outrageous an inhuman, once again pointing out the question if we're living ion a civilized world, or if we're going back to the stone ages. The innocent have to die not only from military attacks , but also from starvation and hunger. Is this human justice ?

After a night of heavy bombardment, shelling continued in the Gaza Strip even minutes before the ceasefire began at 8am on Friday local time. Israel and Hamas earlier confirmed they had agreed to the truce. In a brief statement issued about an hour before the ceasefire was due to begin, the Israeli government said: "In accordance with the authority granted by the security cabinet to the prime minister and the minister of defence, Israel has accepted the UN/US proposal for a 72-hour humanitarian ceasefire beginning 8am Friday." The 24 days of conflict has killed 1, 400 Palestinians, mostly civilians. They had to experience terror even when they were celebrating the holiday of Eid - Al - Fitr. Children who had been playing outside unaware of what's going to happen , were brutally killed , including at least seven children . Hamas militants blamed an Israeli airstrike . During these this short period the Israeli attacks have certainly turned the Palestinian society upside down , because according to the Washingto Post , the Israeli attacks demolished the only power plant supplying electricity to the Gaza strip. By damaging public property , it is questionable what could they have gained. Before the temporary cease fire was issued , Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei accused Israel of committing genocide in Gaza and called on the Islamic world to arm Palestinians fighting the Zionist regime . Most of the world seems to be with Palestine shocked for the brutal suffering they still have to go through. If we go back to the recent past , the Arab spring started with the riots in Egypt and also the Syrian war, soon following thereafter. It was evident that some of these so called developed, western countries actually supported the riots . One cannot come to a conclusion if all these middle eastern countries were united. The Saudi Arabian government has close ties with the US, Egypt and Israel are in regular contact . Do they really help each other at times of trouble , as middle eastern countries ? Comparatively President Bashar Al Asad is being supported by Russia and Iran . During the conflict the Gazan people did not even have proper sanitary facilities , where as their neighboring countries could have helped them , belonging to the middle eastern world . The Israeli attacks on schools were distressing and also appalling .

Before issuing the ceasefire, The US-UN statement added: "Israeli and Palestinian delegations will immediately be going to Cairo for negotiations with the government of Egypt, at the invitation of Egypt, aimed at reaching a durable ceasefire. The parties will be able to raise all issues of concern in these negotiations."

The ceasefire was first announced in New Delhi during a diplomatic visit by Kerry. It reached it's peak when a UN based refugee school was attacked, killing innocent civilians and children . The attack was condemned by the US and also the rest of the world , giving different views and opinions , defined as brutal and disappointing . But according to the damage done by the attacks , it should be defined in a more strong manner , for such acts cannot be accepted in a civilized world .

Previous unilateral ceasefires have been short-lived, with each side blaming the other for violations. This is the first time that both parties have agreed to a pause during which further negotiations will begin.

The news of a temporary ceasefire created certain relief not only to both sides , but also for the rest of the world . But it was short lived. The two nations may have all types of reasons for their battle, but why should thousands of innocent civilians suffer for nothing that they have done ? what do the so called Human Rights organizations have to say about these issues going on in Gaza ?after the ceasefire was released , the general public , and also the rest of the world believed that the ordinary life of both sides will turn back to normal, though it was unpredictable that the ceasefire will be really put into action according to the agreements made. Both sides heaved a sigh of relief when the ceasefire was announced.

But what is happening now ? looks like that they're more bent on war. ''blood to blood'' policy. This should be stopped immediately, otherwise more human lives , state and public property will be destroyed. Such acts are highly condemnable , and cannot be accepted. As human beings there is a question of if we're accepting vulgarism and torture to solve problems, even between nations.

Therefore it is for them to decide,if to continue their mission in the battle field killing thousands of innocent people or to restore peace and order between both sides and solve the issues in a diplomatic way, bringing people's lifestyles back to normal. The whole world is waiting for their final decision.