War on Gaza comes to an End

-

By Christopher Ryan Maboloc, PhD 

Today, October 13, 2025, two years and six days after Hamas attacked Israel, killing 1,200 and kidnapping more than 250, resulting to the War on Gaza that killed 67,120 Palestinians, the remaining 20 hostages were released by Hamas after a ceasefire was in place a day before. Israel, in turn, will also release more than 1,719 Palestinians in detention since the war erupted.

The State of Israel and Hamas agreed to the truce largely based on the 20-point plan laid down by US President Donald Trump, who is in Israel today to speak before the Israeli Parliament and the families of the freed hostages. He was welcomed by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu this morning at the Ben Gurion International Airport.

The effect of the Gaza war and subsequent genocide is beyond imagination. With the cessation of the Israeli bombardment, relief operations will start, with 600 trucks of food, fuel, and medical supplies entering Gaza according to aid agencies. The war has displaced the two million residents of Gaza. In March, starvation started to affect the people, many of them women and children. An earlier ceasefire agreement was scuttled. This time, Trump says it will stay in place. 

Hamas is expected to surrender power and control over Gaza, short of full disarmament, which can take a little more of time. Israel too would not completely pull out of Gaza, concerned more that Hamas would not abide by the agreement. The end to the war is vital for the survival of Gaza, whose population right now is experiencing hunger due to the Israeli blockage of aid.

Rebuilding the damage of the war will cost hundreds of billions of dollars. President Trump and other leaders, mostly from the 20 countries involved in making the deal possible, will next head to Egypt for a summit to discuss the future of Gaza. Palestine rejected the proposal for Tony Blair to administer Gaza after the war. The future of Gaza should be decided by Palestinians, according to one analyst. 

The US, of course, is complicit to this war and while there is an end to the daily bombardment, it is critical to understand that the situation will remain precarious. But what is more important right now is for people to get back to their everyday life, given the damage and sense of hopelessness brought by the war. The United Nations was again helpless with its proposed resolutions because of US veto power in the UN Security Council. 

For the first time, Netanyahu spoke about the end of the war during his speech at the Knesset, Israel's Parliament. Netanyahu appears committed to the idea that the war has come to an end, and in the process, commit to peace, reading from Solomon's wisdom, saying that the two years was a time for war. While not mentioning Palestinians, the Prime Minister was full of praise for President Trump. 

Politics is about practicalities. Trump says that the peace agreement is about his ability to make deals. He was losing his patience. It is, in this respect, a victory walk for Trump, marking it as his legacy. We give it to him. Right now, the people of Gaza cannot be concerned about politics. All they need is the help of the whole world for them to get back on their feet to rebuild their shattered dreams and broken lives.

But while the celebritory mood of Trump is typing of the US President, this is just the first step and finding lasting peace is still far away. The question of restorative justice is apparently out of the picture as the US leader sees it from a business perspective. Mostly, this is American exceptionalism at work but guaranteeing security in Gaza and the region is a tall order. 

Nevertheless, pressuring Israel to end the war is a big achievement, something that Trump has not been able to do with Vladimir Putin. The transition is crucial and Trump talks about a Board of Peace, which will include powerful and affluent states in the Arab and Muslim world. What the role of Palestinians is in n determining their future is something that remains vague.

Will this day be a turning point or just a pause in the cycle of violence and conflict that has gripped the region for decades? This seems to be the fundamental question. For now, nobody knows. Hamas, by releasing the remaining hostages, has no more leverage. Netanyahu has reframed the genocide as a victory for Israel, most analysts conclude. To the survivors of this war, it remains a matter of survival. 

Popular posts from this blog

Power and Politics: The Limits of Legality

-
Image
  By Givheart Dano "Let the court decide." These words have been echoing, attempting to balance the tremors of today's issue regarding Duterte’s arrest. Legal minds have tried to justify this, yet their opinions remain divided, it all comes down to how they interpret the law. However, the truth about Duterte’s fate in the face of justice has yet to be determined, as the ICC has not yet rendered its judgment. The ICC claims to be the entity that will bring justice for crimes committed in his own country. But one may ask: why outside his own land? Of course, returning to the legal perspective, the ICC still has jurisdiction despite the Philippines’ withdrawal from the court during Duterte’s presidency. This withdrawal does not strip the ICC of its jurisdiction, as cases were already filed before the withdrawal took effect, allowing the ICC to retain its authority. However, even among the judges in The Hague (ICC), opinions are divided on the question of jurisdiction, which ...
Read more

The Different Types of Filipino Masses: From EDSA to Duterte

-
Image
  By Oliver Perater  Former President Duterte and Former President Marcos Sr. have something in common, both awakened the Sleeping Political Consciousness of the Filipino Masses. The former, however, made the masses rally behind his back while the latter made the masses rally against him. The Edsa People Power masses were driven by pure disgust for the former president Marcos. It was merely a phenomenon to remove him and his cronies without offering a better replacement. At that time, people seemed willing to allow anyone to lead the country except Marcos and his allies. In fact, it was a chance for the Communist Party of the Philippines to seize political power, but they failed to listen to the sentiments of the masses. People were never as involved in elections as when Duterte started to participate in national politics. Actively supporting a politician without being paid is a new phenomenon. Filipino participation in elections before Duterte was not as personal as it is now...
Read more

So, who is the better thinker?

-
Image
  By Menelito Mansueto I am tempted to say that some Manila-based scholars have a biased view against a leader like Duterte. But I have personally known a few who are supportive of the former President. I prefer to believe that some people are in what is called an echo chamber. Most critics of Duterte have either a left-leaning bias or a Catholic faith-centered bias. Journalists who believe in their fellow journalists’ views are also the ones who tend to critique the Dutertes. Ironically, they also believe in fabricated lies and biases. What is even more ironic is that those who tend to shut down other people’s opinions concerning their political choices claim to be a proponent of democracy. Yet, they could not tolerate opinions that are different from theirs. They have become egotistically self-centered, like Protagoras, thinking they are the measure of all things. Or perhaps their metropolitan position has given them the guts to feel like they are at the center of the world. Dute...
Read more