The war between Israel and Hamas has eventually come to a halt. There is no doubt that the two parties have conferred with another to arrive at the settlement on this perplexing matter. During the 16 months or so of brutality, the humanity has witnessed lack of intelligence, sensitivity, and compassion, in what could be described as the ugliest mask of shame the humanity ever dons.
There is no marvel that adequate and sincere attempts have been made by key players in the region and elsewhere in the world to come to the current situation. Peace would not have possible without the role of each party to achieve concrete gains on the ground and the constant shedding of blood of innocent people in war.
Lovers of peace from all over the world pin hopes on both Israel and Hamas that they stick to their commitments dictated by the deal reached under the patronage of the United States of America, the Arab Republic of Egypt and the State of Qatar. Both parties are accountable to the international community on the one hand and their own people on the other and bear legal and moral obligations towards the deal.
Ordinary people in Israel deserve peace in which they enjoy the freedom from disquieting thoughts they have lived during the times of war in which the tranquility of their daily life has been taken away.
The oppressive emotions among Israeli families resulting from the loss of the lives of their dear ones should exist no longer, as no more young men and women will be lost in the bloody war.
Israeli civilians who left the country may now return home. The Israeli economy also suffered from a depressed, inactive, or unused state. The Israelis should now think of how to restore what their economy has lost so that it becomes active and flourishes again.
The Palestinians have proved that they could stand in the face of the Israeli latest weaponry and military hardware. Part of their resistance has stemmed from their insistence on defending their land. Israel has almost levelled all buildings in Gaza, with houses, schools, hospitals, non-residential buildings have been purposely demolished.
The foundations of basic life are no longer in existence. The Palestinians during the war were subjected to all kinds of trial and experience of pain. The way the ordeal the Palestinians went through is akin to primitive means used to determine guilt or innocence by submitting the accused to dangerous or painful tests believed to be under supernatural control.
While people around the world are wondering how Palestinians could make it while they were deprived from food and water, the answer is that Palestinians as Muslims firmly believe that there is no power that could surpass the power of Allah.
As Muslims, Palestinians believe that regardless of how advanced human abilities are to learn or understand or to deal with new or trying situations, they remain confined within limits. Any aggression is left to Allah who set enforceable limitations upon the scope and exercise of human’s power.
Palestinians have lost more than 46,000 men and women, combatant and non-combatant, young and elderly, but still they chose peace. It is in adherence to the directives of Allah narrated in Surah Al-Anfal (Verse:61) which says if they incline towards peace, then incline towards it as well. This verse clearly emphasises the importance of returning peace in kind and degree when the other party is willing to do so.
There is a special emphasis in Islam on peace as an outcome wanted in preference to others. If the opposing party shows the truth, genuineness, and straightforwardness in seeking peace, Muslims are encouraged to give admittance and approval to the offer for peace and restore to the pleasing arrangement of the deal. And this is literally what the Palestinians have done.
However, the importance of mutual goodwill should also be present among both Israel and Hamas. While both now judge with heightened perception and understanding the feasibility of creating a peaceful condition, it is a moral obligation from each one of them to respond in kind.
The author is Dean, Al Zahra College for Women
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