SABC News (24 November, 2023) invited Dr Makhubela to comment on the significant first ‘pause’ in the Israel-Hamas conflict to exchange hostages for prisoners. It is important to note that a ‘pause’ in the conflict denotes a fragile agreement that can be violated by any side, at any time.
Since the 7 October Hamas attack on Israel the conflict has not only seen the physical destruction of infrastructure, homes, schools, hospitals, and refugee camps by the IDF, but, also a humanitarian disaster due to food, electricity, water, aid, and medical supplies blockaded from entering Gaza.
While this first pause in fighting is significant, a tremendous amount of work remains to be done to bring this conflict to an end, in the interest not of political elites and leaders in Gaza, and Israel, but in the interest of two million residents of Gaza under siege.