Relevance (UPSC): GS-II International Relations; Peace and Conflict | GS-III Security and Disaster Management

On a battered street in Gaza, a family wheels a relative to a clinic that finally has power and medicines. In Israel, families of released captives breathe again, even as they wait for the remains of others. This is the human face of a fragile ceasefire—a deal that pauses violence, trades hostages and prisoners, and promises more aid, while leaving hard politics for later.

What the deal says

• Ceasefire and exchanges: Fighting pauses while hostages and prisoners are exchanged in phases. Hamas has released the last living Israeli hostages; Israel has freed thousands of Palestinian prisoners and detainees, with further transfers linked to benchmarks.
  
• Phased redeployment: Israeli troops pull back from dense urban belts; crossing points reopen in steps; aid trucks surge. The plan expects hundreds of trucks daily and wider access through Gaza’s crossings and Egyptian ports.
  
• Remains and records: Along with living captives, the parties agreed to return the bodies of deceased hostages via the International Committee of the Red Cross. Delays in handing over all remains have already strained the truce.
  
• Governance track: A transitional civilian committee for Gaza is proposed, backed by outside partners, to run essential services until a broader Palestinian political understanding emerges.
  
• International backing: Egypt, Qatar and Turkey have signed on as guarantors alongside the United States, which shepherded the deal.
  

Where the friction shows up

Four days in, disagreements appeared over the pace of returning remains and the handling of aid. Israel halved truck entries and kept Rafah largely closed to private cargo, citing non-compliance; aid agencies warned of rising risk to civilians. The ceasefire holds, but it is under stress. 

These wrinkles sit on a wider diplomatic split. Earlier in 2025, the United Nations Security Council could not agree on a permanent ceasefire text; some members called for an unconditional halt, others tied it to hostage provisions and security guarantees. 

Present Situation

• Humanitarian relief now: Aid access, power, medicine, rubble clearance and safe corridors are concrete and measurable.
  
• Security first logic: Commitments include cutting arms pipelines and a monitored halt on rocket fire, with stepwise troop pull-backs.
  
• Politics later: Borders, settlements, and the shape of final Palestinian authority are mostly pushed to a future table.
  
• Regional glue: Egypt’s ports and crossings, Qatar’s mediation, and Turkey’s backing give levers for compliance.
  

India’s vantage point

India supports a two-state solution with East Jerusalem as the capital of a future Palestinian state, backs any pause that saves lives, and prioritises humanitarian access and maritime safety. A pragmatic Indian line is: welcome verified counter-terror guarantees, but insist on a credible political track anchored in international law.

Law and norms to remember

• United Nations Charter and international humanitarian law: rules on distinction, proportionality and precautions in attack, plus duties to allow relief.
  
• United Nations Security Council Resolutions 242 and 338: land-for-peace framework since 1967.
  
• Arms-transfer due diligence: exporting states must weigh serious-violation risks.
  
• Ceasefire monitoring: neutral verification, timelines, and public reporting keep parties honest.
  

The road to a durable peace

• Make aid predictable: fixed daily truck targets, fuel quotas, and protected repair crews for power and water.
  
• Tie phases to verifiable actions: exchanges, pull-backs, and reopening of crossings should trigger automatically when verified.
  
• Create an oversight cell: a small, standing room where mediators, technical agencies and the parties resolve day-to-day disputes within hours, not days.
  
• Prepare for reconstruction with guardrails: audited funds, open tenders, and a ban on diversion, with early jobs for local youth and de-mining teams.
  
• Put politics back on the calendar: a dated conference on borders, Jerusalem, refugees and security guarantees, with regional guarantees and timelines.
  

Key terms

• Ceasefire: a time-bound halt in fighting; can be partial or full, usually with lists, timelines and monitoring.
  
• Cessation of hostilities: a broader stop that may include redeployment and verification rules.
  
• Humanitarian corridor: a route agreed by parties to move aid and evacuate the wounded and sick.
  
• Demilitarisation (limited): steps that remove or lock away certain weapons or halt their use under watch.
  
• Verification and monitoring: independent checks—often by the Red Cross or a United Nations-mandated team—that certify who did what, when.
  

Exam hook

Key takeaways

• The deal delivers a pause, exchanges and aid—but leaves core politics to later.
  
• Friction over remains and aid flows shows why neutral verification and daily dispute-resolution are essential.
  
• A sustainable peace needs a rights-and-security balance, a realistic governance plan for Gaza, and a dated political track.
  

UPSC Mains question

“Ceasefires save lives but can freeze injustice.” Analyse the 2025 Gaza ceasefire through the lenses of international humanitarian law, United Nations Security Council practice, and third-party verification. What stance should India take to combine humanitarian relief with a credible, time-bound political roadmap?

UPSC Prelims question

Q. With reference to peace processes, consider the following statements:

1. A ceasefire is a temporary halt in fighting and often includes monitoring and timelines.
   
2. The United Nations Security Council has always required a permanent ceasefire before humanitarian aid can flow.
   
3. Verification and monitoring are tools used to certify compliance with exchanges and redeployments.
   Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
   (a) 1 and 3 only (b) 2 only (c) 1 and 2 only (d) 1, 2 and 3
   Answer: (a).
   

One-line wrap: Back the pause, protect the people, and lock in a monitored road to rights and security—only then can a ceasefire grow into peace.