Statement by the United National Antiwar Coalition, January 24, 2025
The ceasefire agreement is a victory for the Palestinian people and for the Palestinian resistance. As we have said since the beginning, the goal of the Zionist government of Israel was the total destruction of Hamas and the Palestinian people. It was genocide. But the Palestinian people live, and the Israeli government was forced to negotiate with Hamas.
It is remarkable that the Israeli hostages that have been returned so far have been in good shape and were treated well, this despite the fact of the continuous bombing and shelling of the Gaza and the denial to the people of Gaza basic necessities such as food, water, and medical supplies. On the other hand, we have seen the Palestinians who have been taken prisoner stripped of their clothing, mistreated and tortured.
It is a war crime to not allow civilians to leave a combat area. Israel committed this war crime by keeping the Palestinian people in the open-air prison of Gaza as they bombed them. They committed this war crime because their goal was always to eliminate the Palestinian people from the land called Palestine. And so, their war crimes also included the indiscriminate bombing of the people, of their homes, their hospitals, their schools and the entire infrastructure of Gaza. These are all war crimes defined in the Geneva accords and the rulings of the International Court of Justice.
But the Israeli government could have never committed this genocide without the help of the United States. It was US bombs from US planes, US shells, US money and US political support that was used to carry out this genocide. The present ceasefire agreement was decided months ago but the US stood in the way of it being implemented. The US voted with Israel in the United Nations to not support a ceasefire and in so doing, these two pro-genocide states stood against the entire world. The United States is every bit as guilty as Israel.
The world has come to see the true nature of the Zionist regime and its US sponsors. This clearer understanding of the true nature of the Zionist government and US imperialism will never be forgotten. Millions of people took to the streets across the world to protest this genocide.
This victory is due to the heroic resistance of the Palestinian people against tremendous odds and with tremendous sacrifice. The victory is also due to the support of people throughout the world and the Axis of Resistance, especially by Hezbollah, Yemen, the Assad government of Syria and Iran.
The genocide has not ended. We must be vigilant to ensure that the ceasefire holds. And while there is a ceasefire in Gaza, people are returning to the destruction of their homes. We must demand that the US and the other supporters of this genocide pay for the reconstruction in Gaza. We must also demand that that Israel, its illegal “settlers” and military stop their attacks and their illegal occupation of the West Bank.
From the River to the Sea, all of Palestine will be free!
*Featured Image: Palestinians react to news of a ceasefire agreement with Israel, in Deir al Balah, central Gaza Strip, on January 15, 2025. (Photo: Omar Ashtawy/APA Images)