Despite Talks of a 'Truce,' The Strikes Into Gaza Continue

The United States, United Nations, European Union, and Russia have all urged Israel and Hamas to have a ceasefire. But the attacks continue to go back and forth.

Days before Christmas Day, the Palestinian militant group known as Hamas announced an end to the ceasefire agreement. Hamas currently rules the Gaza Strip. Back in June, the ceasefire agreement was brokered by the Egyptian Government. But, the ceasefire agreement was shaky at best. On Saturday, December 27, the Israeli airstrikes into Gaza began. So far, it has brought international condemnation. Britain had protested the attacks. Pakistan had protested the attacks. Cuba had protested the attacks. The list continues to grow. In Pakistan's case, it has its own problems to worry about. The United Nations held an emergency meeting on the behalf of Libya’s request to assess the situation. Russia drafted the request for Israel to halt the attacks. The United States has blamed Hamas for the actions that led to the Israeli airstrikes. So far, the United States, the United Nations, the European Union, and the Russian Government have urged an “immediate ceasefire” between both sides. The United States has already urged Hamas to quit firing rockets onto Israeli soil. So far, Israeli is contemplating a forty-eight hour halt of its attacks into the Gaza Strip. Even though there are talks of a truce and halting to the attacks, it does not mean the airstrikes into Gaza are going to stop. At the same time, Hamas continued its rocket attacks. Having talks about a ceasefire and having an actual ceasefire are two completely different things. As a result of the attacks on Gaza, there is the possibility that Syria and Lebanon can also be thrown into the mix. Will there a truce be made? Nobody can really answer that question. Israeli will continue its airstrikes and Hamas will continue its rocket strikes. So far, Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert said that the airstrikes and blockade were simply the “beginning.” The airstrikes continue to bring more international condemnation. It will inevitably be one of the first major international problems that Barack Obama must face once he assumes the mantle of the United States President.