Ceasefire? Pakistanis Still Troubled by Gaza's Continued Existence
Al Jazeera reports thousands rallied in Islamabad following a 'ceasefire agreement' in Gaza. The mainstream framing suggests this is a joyous response to peace. What’s missing? The 'ceasefire' came after over 37,000 Palestinians, including 15,000 children, were killed by Israel's military in just seven months, as documented by the Gaza Health Ministry. This agreement isn't peace; it's a pause
after a slaughter, following decades of blockade and occupation. Pakistanis, unlike certain cable news anchors, recall the Nakba in 1948, the 1967 war, Sabra and Shatila in 1982, and repeated Israeli incursions into Gaza (2008, 2012, 2014, 2021) – each followed by a 'ceasefire' that left Gaza more devastated. How many times must a people be destroyed before the 'international community' admits
it's not simply 'conflict'? The protests aren't about celebrating a diplomatic breakthrough, but raging against the ongoing genocide. It's a reminder that outside the Washington-Tel Aviv echo chamber, the world remembers what 'ceasefire' often means: a reload for the next stage of colonial violence. Perhaps the media should ask if 'peace' for Gaza just means a slower death.