A brief history of Middle East ceasefires
Posted October 24, 2023 7:17 am.
In today’s Big Story Podcast, two weeks after a terror attack by Hamas, and two weeks into a devastating retaliatory bombing campaign by Israel, thousands of lives are gone, and the world wonders how and when the horror might stop. There are calls for a humanitarian pause. A ceasefire. Deescalation. It seems impossible in the moment, but then, it usually does.
Dr. Randa Slim, the Director of the Conflict Resolution and Track II Dialogues Program at the Middle East Institute, says that the involvement of third parties, like Iran and it’s regional proxies, is making the situation even more volatile.
“Every party in this conflict, Israel, Hamas, allies of Hamas, America, they are all messaging each other, and the purpose of this messaging is to help shape the calculus of their opponent in terms of the next steps,” says Slim.
So today, a brief history of ceasefires, peace deals, and other quests for a pause in a deadly conflict — and an explanation from a long-time observer of how they come together, or don’t. How far away might a ceasefire be now? Who brings what to the table? How can Israel possibly back down now?
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