Why the Hamas-Israel ceasefire is perilously fragile and could be sabotaged

As the ceasefire unfolds, we must question whether it will hold or devolve into another opportunity for Israel to continue its persecution, oppression and genocide of Palestinians.  

 

By Fareed Khan

 

As the world cautiously welcomes a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, the specter of violence in Gaza hasn't completely disappeared. The announcement of a truce, ostensibly meant to end the brutal, genocidal violence that Israel has been committing against Palestinians for 15 months, has not quelled the fears of many who know all too well the precariousness of such agreements.  Observers are right to worry that Israel will exploit this moment, using the days leading up to the ceasefire as an opportunity to inflict even more harm on an already traumatized Palestinian population.

 

History teaches us that ceasefires, whether it's in the Middle East or elsewhere, have frequently been preceded by cycles of bloodshed by one side or another as they try to gain advantage before things become set in stone. In the case of Palestinians and Israel, the grim reality is that time and again, agreements have faltered due to a deeply entrenched mistrust rooted in actions that speak louder than words.  The current ceasefire is strikingly similar to the proposal floated back in May 2023, which Israel callously rejected and blamed Hamas for its failure, while it continued its campaign of genocide. This pattern raises a chilling question, can Israel ever be trusted to uphold its commitments to peace?

The alarming reports that surfaced almost immediately following the ceasefire announcement illustrated this distrust in stark detail.  Within hours, Israeli jets bombed a crowd of Palestinians who were celebrating what should have been a hopeful turning point.  Such actions are not incidental; they are symptomatic of a state led by political figures whose ideologies are steeped in militarism and genocidal ideology, and an unyielding commitment to territorial expansion at the expense of Palestinian lives.

Figures like Israeli cabinet ministers Bezalel Smotrich and Itamar Ben Gvir — anti-Palestinian racists and intractable proponents of right-wing extremism — have already expressed intentions to undermine the ceasefire.  This defiance is not only reckless but indicative of a broader mentality within Israel's leadership.  Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's suggestion that Hamas was breaching the agreement even before the ink was dry speaks volumes about the dubiousness of any Israeli commitment to peace.

The international community bears witness to these flagrant violations of norms, including the Geneva Conventions and various resolutions from the United Nations Security Council going back decades, which stipulate the requirement for humane treatment of occupied populations during times of conflict.  For decades Israel's actions have included crimes against humanity, underpinned by an ideological justification that is both alarming and abhorrent.  Israel continues to embody a level of state-sponsored violence and terrorism that, over the past 15 months, has resulted in more than 54,000 Palestinian deaths (the vast majority women and children), the displacement of more than two million Gaza residents, the damage or destruction of more than 77% of Gaza's buildings, and unimaginable suffering and misery for countless innocent Palestinians.

A host of scholars and human rights activists — including many who identify as Jewish — have condemned the Israeli government for its genocidal policies. They have been joined by Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, and more than a dozen nations that are prosecuting Israel for committing genocide at the International Court of Justice.  Their voices resound among the millions of people worldwide who stand in solidarity with Palestinians, recognizing that such systemic violence can never be justified or overlooked.  Among those who have become critics of Israel include many Holocaust survivors and their descendants who have been particularly vocal, drawing parallels between their own history and the current plight of Palestinians.

Yet, where is the accountability?  More than a dozen countries — including moral leaders like South Africa, and Canada's NATO allies Belgium, Spain and Türkiye — are urging international judicial action against Israeli and its leaders for their genocidal crimes.  Sadly, nations that once prided themselves on human rights advocacy, like Canada, have instead chosen to align themselves with the very perpetrators of this tragedy, effectively turning a blind eye to the suffering of the most persecuted minority in the world.

As the ceasefire unfolds, we must question whether it will hold or devolve into another opportunity for Israel to continue its persecution, oppression and genocide of Palestinians.  The global stage is set not only for potential humanitarian relief but also for a deeper reckoning with the ongoing complicity of Western nations in supporting a regime that has perpetuated horrific violence against Palestinians, and denies the human rights of those living under its occupation.

The question looms, will the world (particularly the West) turn its back on Palestinians the way it has for the past 15 months?  Or will political leaders finally rise to the occasion and begin to pursue criminal accountability for the architects of this grave humanitarian crisis?  

The Gaza ceasefire, while a glimmer of hope, is a precarious one. For it is built atop a foundation of broken promises, historical injustices, and a persistent pattern of persecution against the Palestinian people going back decades.  If this deal crumbles — as it may given Netanyahu's refusal to hold a cabinet meeting to ratify the deal only a day after it was announced — those responsible must be held accountable for their actions.   

History will remember not only the tens of thousands of dead and the suffering of millions in Gaza but also the silence of those Western leaders who had the power to stop the carnage but didn't.  The time for genuine international action was ignored again and again since October 2023, but now there is a chance at peace and pursuing accountability lest we find ourselves continuing to be haunted by the specter of complicity, while the cries of the innocent victims continue to echo across the region and the world.

© 2025 The View From Here.  © 2025 Fareed Khan.  All Rights Reserved.

Poilievre receives backlash to "racism is a recent phenomenon in Canada" comment in interview with far right, extremist personality Jordan Peterson

This manipulation of historical facts is reminiscent of tactics employed by far-right politicians in other Western nations, the goal of which is to erase legitimate grievances and normalize hate, racism and bigotry. 

 

By Fareed Khan

 

Conservative Party leader Pierre Poilievre sat down for an interview with far-right, extremist personality Jordan Peterson — a figure notorious for his racist, transphobic and misogynist views on social and cultural issues.  During the conversation, Poilievre supported a statement made by Peterson, one that sent shockwaves through the political landscape.  Peterson claimed that that racism in Canada is a recent phenomenon, and Poilievre added to the outrageous claim that racism was the fault of “socialists”, “progressives”, and “wokeism”. These claims are not merely misguided, they reveal a deeper, more unsettling reality about Poilievre's political ethos — the normalization of racism and revisionist history that serves his partisan interests as he lusts for power.

 

© 2022 Michael deader.  © 2022 The Hill Times.

Historically, Canada is not a pristine bastion of racial harmony, as Poilievre would like to suggest.  The country has grappled with a legacy of systemic oppression, racism and white supremacy, as evidenced by the genocide of Indigenous peoples, the Chinese “head tax”, a history of institutional antisemitism prior to World War II, the internment of Japanese Canadians during the war, systemic anti-Black racism, and more recently Islamophobia in the form of government policies targeting Muslims, as well as the decades of institutional and systemic racism against Palestinians.  Each of these instances demonstrates that racism and bigotry are deeply woven into the fabric of this nation, contradicting Poilievre's assertion that it is a modern invention of the left and the “woke”.  Such a blatant dismissal of history is not just alarming it is dangerous, and it fuels the delusions of racist and white supremacist elements in society.

By framing racism as a recent phenomenon, Poilievre effectively denies the lived experiences of countless Canadians who have faced racial injustice and continue to do so today.  Furthermore, it undermines critical conversations about the systemic and structural inequalities that racialized communities experience.  His rhetoric serves to advance a narrative that minimizes the past and misleads the public about the ongoing struggles for racial justice that Black people, Indigenous people, and persons of colour are dealing with today.

This manipulation of historical facts is reminiscent of tactics employed by far-right politicians in other Western nations, the goal of which is to erase legitimate grievances and normalize hate, racism and bigotry.  By declaring that racism is a recent import Poilievre emboldens extremist elements in society, creating a bullseye on the backs of BIPOC communities which are already vulnerable to discrimination.  It is an extremely cynical ploy demonstrating that Poilievre cares little for maintaining social harmony in Canada’s pluralistic society.

Rachel Gilmore, a journalist who analyzed the interview, points out that Poilievre’s comments resonate deeply with a broader trend of right-wing populism that thrives on division and fear.  The Conservative leader’s rhetoric is not simply an isolated moment but rather part of a systematic approach to galvanizing support from a voter base that finds solace in grievances against “woke” ideologies.  Such an agenda has the potential to foster an environment where social justice advocates are labeled as enemies of the state for challenging hate and bigotry in this country.

The implications of Poilievre's ideological leanings extend beyond mere dialogue.  They signal his support for a political culture increasingly hostile to conversations surrounding combatting hate and racism, and supporting diversity and equity.  Under his leadership, the Conservative Party appears poised to leverage a narrative that condemns advocates of social justice while promoting the idea that concerns about racism are exaggerated or unfounded.  This creates an atmosphere where discrimination can fester untreated, further marginalizing communities that have faced systemic barriers for decades, barriers which continue to exist today and will be augmented under a Poilievre government.

The rise of this type of political rhetoric in Canada is indicative of a troubling trend in democracies across the globe — a calculated attempt to rewrite history to fit a politically expedient narrative.  Just as we have seen in the United States, where figures like Donald Trump have dismissed and downplayed America’s long history of racism, Poilievre's words signal an unsettling alignment with those ideologies.  We must not forget that Poilievre himself has benefitted from white privilege and has built a career as a professional politician in a country founded on racism, white supremacy, genocide and colonialism.  In the process of being a politician and becoming leader of the Conservatives he has put himself in a position where he is out of touch with the day to day realities faced by his fellow Canadians, many of whom live in the shadow of Canada’s racist history, and will never live the privileged life that he does.

Failing to confront or denying the ugly truths of our past allows attacks on racial justice movements to flourish.  This dangerous rhetoric nurtures an environment where hate can thrive unchecked, posing a grave threat to social cohesion. As we’ve seen in other countries, the results can be catastrophic — fostering division, hostility, and an erosion of the rights of marginalized communities.

As citizens, it is crucial that we hold our political leaders accountable for their words and actions. Rather than remaining passive observers, we must actively engage in conversations about racism, social justice, and historical accountability.  Organizations like Canadians United Against Hate and others have rightly called upon the public to reject Poilievre’s dangerous ideas and demand transparency and accountability from a leader who seeks the highest office in the land.

The moral imperative to confront and dismantle these harmful narratives has never been clearer.  Like other nations, Canada is not immune to the rising tide of far-right politics, and if Poilievre is to become our next prime minister, his denial of the country's history of racism risks not only the integrity of Canadian democracy but also the safety and well-being of minority and marginalized communities.

In combatting this dangerous rhetoric, we must recommit ourselves to building a society founded on diversity, acceptance, equality, and racial justice. The vast majority of Canadians embrace pluralistic values that promote equity and respect for all.  Allowing divisive political rhetoric to dominate our discourse is unacceptable. We must proactively counter these ideologies by lifting up the voices of those marginalized by racism and advocating for systemic change.

It is imperative that we stand together against the normalization of dangerous narratives like Poilievre's.  We must acknowledge and engage with our history, recognizing the injustices that have shaped our society, and continue to affect it today.  In doing so, we can foster a Canada that is not only aware of its past but is also committed to creating a more just and equitable future for all its citizens.

Ultimately, it is the responsibility of every Canadian to challenge the dismissals of racism and to fight against those who push ideologies that seek to undermine our values.  The stakes are too high to remain silent in the face of such dangerous rhetoric.  We must act, ensuring that hate remains on the fringes, while we collectively strive for a more inclusive and just society.  This is not merely a political responsibility; it is a moral obligation we owe to ourselves and to future generations.

© 2025 The View From Here.  © 2025 Fareed Khan.  All Rights Reserved.