[Joint Statement] Israel-Hamas Ceasefire Deal : Too Little Too Late

A permanent ceasefire and end to the illegal occupation must be the next steps

Large-scale, sustainable humanitarian aid must be provided to all of Gaza immediately
The Israeli military must completely withdraw its troops and Palestine’s right to self-determination must be guaranteed

With Israel and Hamas reaching an agreement on phase 1 of Trump’s “peace plan”, the ceasefire went into effect on October 10th. The Israeli military has withdrawn from parts of the Gaza Strip, and on the 13th, 20 living Israeli hostages and 1,718 Palestinian hostages, as well as 250 prisoners serving life or long-term sentences were exchanged. The bombing that has gone for two years has paused and Palestinians who have had to flee their homes are now able to return. Aid and humanitarian assistance is also entering Gaza, which had been suffering from acute starvation. This is good news. But for the 67,000 Gazans who were murdered and the 460 who died of starvation during the genocide, this ceasefire comes too late.

Trump has declared that “the war is over” but there is still a pile of unresolved issues. Given that Israel has violated previous ceasefire agreements, and that they even bombed mediator Qatar, targeting the Hamas negotiating delegation, this ceasefire is also clearly on shaky ground. Israel must honor the ceasefire agreement and this temporary ceasefire must lead to a permanent ceasefire and an end to the illegal occupation.

At present, the most pressing order of business is for sustainable, large-scale humanitarian aid to enter all of the Gaza Strip immediately. Over the last two years, Israel’s blockade of the Gaza Strip and systematic refusal to allow aid in has exacerbated the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, with most Palestinians in Gaza suffering from acute malnutrition. The medical system has completely collapsed and medical equipment and essential medication is severely lacking as well. 90% of the buildings in Gaza including residential buildings and schools have been damaged or destroyed, meaning there aren’t even proper shelters to weather the coming winter. Without urgent measures, even without bombing, the number of the dead will continue to climb. A UN-led humanitarian aid system must be restored and the international community must cooperate in the rebuilding of Gaza. In order for this to be possible, Israel’s illegal 18-year long blockade on the Gaza Strip must be lifted immediately.

The Israeli military must withdraw completely from the Gaza Strip. The Israeli military has pulled back to the “yellow line” per the first stage of the ceasefire but 58% of the Gaza Strip remains under Israeli control. According to the “peace plan” the Israeli military will withdraw in phases, setting up a “security buffer zone” along Gaza’s borders during the third phase, but this will only strengthen Israel’s illegal occupation. Last July, the ICJ ruled that Israel’s ongoing occupation of Palestine since 1967 is illegal, and has recommended that it be ended immediately, completely, and unconditionally. This can be done through the IOF’s complete withdrawal and the dismantling of illegal settlements. Additionally, the over 10,000 Palestinians imprisoned in Israeli jails without a trial or charge must be released as soon as possible.

Palestine’s right to self-determination must be respected as a law protected by international law. However, under Trump’s ‘peace plan’, Israeli and American developers are permitted to control Gaza, and one of the main perpetrators of the 2003 US invasion of Iraq, former UK prime minister Tony Blair, has been appointed to head a transitional authority to oversee the reconstruction of Gaza. This is an extremely dangerous idea. Authority over Gaza and its reconstruction must not be left to outside powers like the US and the UK. The future of Palestine must be decided by Palestinians. The right to self-determination is not negotiable, and in the implementation of the ‘peace plan’ the participation and leadership of Palestinians must be guaranteed. In particular, Hamas cannot be unilaterally pushed to disarm in a situation where Israel’s occupation has not ended. An agreement can be reached only in a situation where Palestinian sovereignty and international law are respected.

We are keeping a close eye on the implementation of this ceasefire agreement. Until it becomes a permanent ceasefire, until the Israeli military completely withdraws from the land they’re illegally occupying, and until Palestine’s right to self determination is fully respected, we will stand in solidarity with the Palestinian people.

October 14th, 2025
Urgent Action by S.Korean Civil Society in Solidarity with Palestine

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