While the 4-day truce in Gaza to allow for the release of hostages and aid agencies into the strip may alleviate some of the worst and most immediate suffering it is neither a cessation nor a pause.
It is certainly not a ceasefire, despite its description as such by much of the media.
Lindsey German, Stop the War convenor said: “After 46 days of relentless bombing and ground attacks, a 4-day respite, whenever it starts, in the bombing of Gaza will not end the killing and the suffering of innocent civilians. It will not end Israel’s slaughter of the Palestinian people. It is clear that the ethnic cleansing will continue.
“The Israeli prime minister’s office statement that the ‘lull’ in military operations will be extended by a day for every 10 more hostages only serves to underline that point.
“Without an immediate and permanent ceasefire and a commitment by all sides to a just and lasting peace, our movement will continue marching and demonstrating for those very things.
“We urge the hundreds of thousands of people who have turned out on the streets of London over the last few weeks for the national Palestine marches to not be deterred by those who claim this is a ceasefire. Join us again this Saturday in central London to demand a Ceasefire Now.”
