By Mazin Qumsiyeh
Oct 11, 2025
By Mazin Qumsiyeh
A temporary ceasefire and release of some Palestinians in a prisoner
exchange is not a “peace agreement” and it is far from what is needed:
ending colonization, freedom for the >10,000 political prisoners still in
Israeli gulags (also tortured nearly100 died under torture in the last two
years), return of the milions of refugees, and accountability for genocide,
ethnic cleansing and apartheid. That is why this global uprising (intifada)
will not stop until freedom, justice, and equality are attained. Here are
brief answers I gave to questions about the agreement for Gaza
1. How has life in the West Bank changed for you and your community during
the past two years of conflict?
The WB was illegally occupied since 1967 (ICJ ruling) but it was not merely
an occupation but intensive colonization and ethnic cleansing. The attacks
on our people accelerated in the last two years with over 60,000 made
homeless in the West Bank and denial of freedom of movement (including
hundreds f new gates installed in these two years separating the remaining
concentration camps/ghettos of the West Bank ).
2. What is your assessment of the new peace deal that brought an end to the
fighting in Gaza?
It is not a peace deal. It is an agreement to pause the genocide which will
not work because the beligerant occupier (“Israel”) has not respected a
single agreement it signed since its founding. Even the agreement to join
the UN was conditional or respecting the UN Charter and UN resolutions
issued before and after 1949. This continued to even breaking the signed
ceasefire agreement of last year. I have 0% confidence that this latest
agreement would be respected even on the simple aspect of “pausing” the
genocide and ethnic cleansing going on since 1948.
3. In your view, why did war drag on for two years despite multiple
ceasefire attempts?
Simply put because colonization can only be done with violence. And the war
on our people has gone on not for two years but for 77 years without ending
(sustained by Western government support). Israel as a colonization entity
is the active face of colonization. The USA for example broke similar
agreements for “pauses” in colonization with natives in North America and
broke every single one of them.
4. What kind of humanitarian and environmental toll has the conflict taken
on Palestinian society?
It is now well documented fro UN agencies, human rights groups (like
Amnesty, Human Rights Watch, Physicians for Human Rights, even Israeli
group B’Tselem). In brief it is genocide, ecoide, scholasticide, medicide,
and veriticide. More at ongaza.org
5. Why do you think it took the IDF so long to rescue all the hostages?
The terrorist organization that deceptively calls itself “IDF” was not
interested in rescuing their captives (not “hostages”) and they only got
people back via exchange of prisoners (not rescue). The IGF (Israeli
Genocide Forces) actually killed many of their own soldiers and civilians
on 7 Oct. 2023 by activating the Hannibal directive to prevent their
capture. The resistance was aiming to capture colonizers (living on stolen
Palestinian lands) to exchange for some of the over 11,000 political
prisoners illegally held in Israeli jails. Again see ongaza.org
6. How significant was international involvement—particularly from the
U.S.—in reaching the final agreement?
This is the first genocide in human history that is not executed by one
government. It is executed by a number of governments directly supporting
and aiding. (participating). This includes the USA, UK, France, Egypt,
Germany, Australia etc. Many of these countries have governments dominated
or highly influenced by the Zionist agenda. Under influence of a growing
popular protest against the genocide around the world, some of those
countries are trying to wiggle out from pressure in an effort to save
“Israel” from growing global isolation. Trump ws blackmailed via
videos/files collected by Jeffrey Epstein and Ghiseline Maxwell (Mossad
agents). He is simply a narcissistic collaborator with genocide!
7. What concrete steps do you think are necessary now to turn this peace
deal into a sustainable, lasting solution?
Again not a “peace deal”. What needs to be done is apply boycotts,
divestments, sanctions (BDS) on this rogue state that violates the
International conventions (Geneva convention, Conventions against Apartheid
and Genocide). BDS was used against apartheid South Africa and needs to be
applied here also. For more see bdsmovement.net
8. How do you see the Palestine Museum of Natural History contributing to
rebuilding and healing efforts in the aftermath of war?
Our institute (PIBS, palestinenature.org) which includes museums, botanic
garden, and many other sections is focused on “sustainable human and
natural communities” Our motto is respect: for ourselves (empowerment) for
others (regardless of religious or other background), and for nature.
Conflict, colonizations, oppression are obviously areas we challenge and
work on in JOINT struggle with all people of various background
9. Looking ahead, what gives you optimism—or concern—about the future
relationship between Palestinians and Israelis?
What gives me optimism first and foremost is the heroic resilience and
resistance (together making sumud) of our Palestinian people everywhere and
the millions of other people mobilizing for human rights and for justice
(including the right of refugees to return and also environmental justice).
What gives me concern is the depth of depravity that greedy individuals in
power go to destroying our planet and our people and profiting from
colonization and genocide.
8.5 million Palestinians are refugees and displaced people thanks to
Zionism and western collusion with it. A collusion intent on transforming
Palestine from multi-ethnic, multi-cultural, multireligious, and
multilingual society to a racist Jewish state (monolithic).
World Court Findings on Israeli Apartheid a Wake-Up Call
International Court of Justice Makes Clear Call for Reparations
https://www.hrw.org/news/2024/09/19/world-court-findings-israeli-apartheid-wake-call
The 7 October 2023 reminded us of the 1943 Warsaw Ghetto Uprising (
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Warsaw_Ghetto_Uprising) and 7 October 1944!
Prisoner Revolt at Auschwitz-Birkenau
https://encyclopedia.ushmm.org/content/en/timeline-event/holocaust/1942-1945/auschwitz-revolt
2025 Nobel Peace Prize as before was not given to the any of the hundreds
of deserving nominees but given instead to right wing pro genocide María
Corina Machado. She dedicated her prize to Donald Trump and had previously
aligned with the worst right-wing parties throughout Latin America as well
as the genocidal regime of Netanyahu (and even asked them for help to
topple her own elected government).
https://www.democracynow.org/2025/10/10/nobel_peace_prize
https://venezuelanvoices.org/2025/04/02/what-does-maria-corina-machados-alliance-with-the-european-and-israeli-ultra-right-imply-for-the-venezuelan-people/
DEMAND THEIR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – Huwaida Arraf (Palestinian/American),
Zohar Chamberlain Regev (Israeli/German), and Omer Sharir (Israeli) were
interrogated before the Magistrate’s Court in Ashkelon on suspicion of
“infiltration into an unauthorized military area.” They are being held
separately from the other flotilla volunteers in Shikma Prison for refusing
to sign false charges, and are now on hunger strike in protest. Protest
outside your local Israeli embassy to demand that all flotilla hostages are
freed. Help end Israel’s choke-hold over Palestine’s air, land, sea, and
freedom. Mobilize until your government stops enabling, funding, and
shielding Israel now!
https://freedomflotilla.org/
https://www.facebook.com/FreedomFlotillaCoalition/
Mandela’s grandson and Jewish American activist on how he was treated by
the apartheid regime https://youtu.be/T_pM-ZDaPAA
Message to Arab “leaders”: Please take lessons from what happened to others
who collaborated with Israel (e.g. South Lebanon Army leaders) and what
will happen to those in Gaza collaborating wihh Israel (Yasser Abu Shabab
and Husam Al-Astal). Whether you are a gulf monarch or a Palestinian
enjoying five star hotels and Armani suits (Hussain Al-Shaikh and Mohammad
Dahlan), only repentance and ending corruption and reconnecting with the
people would save you (in this life or the next). And for the 99.9% of
humanity not directly profiting financially from genocide and injustice: No
one will escape the horrors coming from the greedy. By definition greed
will not stop on its own and in this case the Zionistts are
destroying so much in so many countries (even the US).
Brown University’s Cost of War research shows up to $33.77 billion American
taxpayers money given to Israel in the period 7 Oct 2023 and 24 Sept 2025.
Stay Humane, act, and keep hope and Palestine alive
Mazin Qumsiyeh
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