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Everything you need to know about specific terms used during a period of conflict.<\/p>\n
Originally published on Nov 9<\/em><\/p>\n After six weeks of relentless Israeli bombardment<\/a> of Gaza and over 14,000 Palestinian lives lost, Israel and Hamas have agreed<\/a> to a pause in fighting in exchange for the release of hostages and Palestinian prisoners.<\/p>\n Since Oct 7, Pakistan, the United Nations and other world bodies have been calling for a ceasefire, while Israel-aligned countries, like the United States have urged for a \u201chumanitarian pause\u201d.<\/p>\n The parties in the conflict \u2014 and negotiators \u2014 are using different terms for the Nov 22 agreement. Israel is calling it a \u201cpause in fighting\u201d, Hamas is calling it a \u201ctruce\u201d, while Qatar, which helped negotiate these terms is describing it a \u201chumanitarian pause\u201d.<\/p>\n So what do these terms mean? Why are they different? Are they interchangeable? Here, we try to unpack them for you.<\/p>\n These are some key terms to understand during a conflict, as defined<\/a> by the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs and the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC).<\/p>\n United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has redoubled his efforts<\/a> for a ceasefire in Gaza, saying most recently that Gaza was becoming \u201ca graveyard for children\u201d, where more than 4,000 have died<\/a> due to heavy Israeli bombardment.<\/p>\n In a ceasefire<\/a>, fighting stops, usually agreed upon by the warring parties. A ceasefire typically covers the whole area where the conflict is being waged, and it can lead to a permanent settlement as part of a political solution.<\/p>\n A humanitarian pause in the hostilities between Israel and Hamas would be \u201ca vital step to ease the burden on civilians in Gaza,\u201d according to the New York Times<\/em> Editorial Board<\/a>.<\/p>\n A humanitarian pause<\/a> is a temporary cessation of hostilities, agreed upon by all warring parties, for humanitarian purposes, such as allowing aid to enter an area of active war. It is usually for a defined period and specific geographic area where the humanitarian activities are to be carried out.<\/p>\n UAE Ambassador to UN Lana Nusseibeh has called for a \u201ccessation of hostilities\u201d at a UN Security Council meeting.<\/p>\n A cessation of hostilities is a temporary stop to the fighting. It can be a stepping stone towards a ceasefire and is designed to pause combat so parties can begin talks with each other.<\/p>\n Amid the escalating bombardment of Gaza, EU leaders have called for<\/a> \u201ccontinued, rapid, safe and unhindered humanitarian access and aid to reach those in need through all necessary measures including humanitarian corridors and pauses for humanitarian needs\u201d.<\/p>\n In humanitarian corridors, specific routes are identified for the safe passage of humanitarian goods from one place to another in an active area of conflict.<\/p>\n A temporary time period, used by UN agencies like Unicef and WHO, for medics and other personnel to provide medical attention to children during a conflict. For example, for an immunisation campaign. All parties agree not to interfere with the medical personnel\u2019s work during this time period.<\/p>\n Reporters Without Borders (RSF) filed a complaint in the International Criminal Court for war crimes committed<\/a> against Palestinian journalists in Gaza \u2014 the third such complaint since 2018 \u2014 and against an Israeli journalist, killed and wounded in the course of their work.<\/p>\n War crimes<\/a> are a serious breach of international law committed against civilians or enemy combatants during an international or domestic armed conflict.<\/p>\n A truce<\/a> is a halt in fighting agreed upon by the belligerents themselves. It is not binding and can come and go during the course of a conflict. Unlike a humanitarian pause, a truce can be called for any reason \u2014 it is not restricted to humanitarian purposes.<\/p>\n An armistice<\/a> indicates a formal agreement to end fighting and is not necessarily the end of a war. It could be an attempt at negotiating a lasting peace.<\/p>\n ICRC president Mirjana Spoljaric has voiced shock at the \u201cintolerable level of human suffering\u201d in Gaza and urged all sides to de-escalate<\/a>, adding that \u201cthis is a catastrophic failure that the world must not tolerate\u201d.<\/p>\n De-escalation<\/a> is a reduction in the intensity of a conflict or potentially violent situation, according to the Collins English Dictionary.<\/p>\n An area which cannot be occupied or used for military purposes by any party during a conflict, which the parties agree upon. Police forces may be stationed in demilitarised zones<\/a> to maintain order.<\/p>\n The United Nations organises peacekeeping operations<\/a> or missions to help countries avoid \u201crecidivism\u201d, which is when adversaries backslide into violence.<\/p>\n For the UN to deploy a peacekeeping operation, it needs both the consent of warring parties and approval from the UN Security Council. Peacekeepers can help avoid recidivism by promoting the rule of law and monitoring elections, for example.<\/p>\n Peacebuilding<\/a> tries to promote sustainable peace by addressing the root causes of conflict and supporting indigenous capacities for peace management and conflict resolution.<\/p>\n Humanitarian access<\/a> is a way for organisations to access people in areas of conflict and provide them with emergency assistance. This can be done by establishing relief corridors or days of tranquillity, but the consent of all parties is required first.<\/p>\n South Africa has called for the United Nations to deploy a rapid protection force to protect civilians<\/a> in Gaza from further bombardment as Israel steps up its retaliation for a deadly attack by Hamas.<\/p>\n Protecting civilians<\/a> during armed conflict is of utmost priority in international humanitarian law. Civilians are most vulnerable during periods of violence and are most in need of protection and shelter.<\/p>\n UNICEF called the Israeli attacks on the Jabaliya refugee camp in Gaza \u201chorrific and appalling\u201c<\/a> and referred to their protected status in IHL.<\/p>\n International humanitarian law<\/a> refers to a set of rules seeking to limit the effect of armed conflict.<\/p>\n IHL primarily covers two areas: the protection of those who are not taking part in the fighting, and restrictions on the means of warfare, especially the methods and tactics used. International human rights watchdog Amnesty International denounced five of the attacks Israel carried out against the civilians in Gaza between October 7-12, explaining that the attacks are considered war crimes.<\/p>\n Amnesty International also acknowledged that the recent escalation of atrocities in Gaza are not the full scale of war crimes committed by Israel.<\/p>\n \u201cThe five cases presented barely scratch the surface of the horror that Amnesty has documented and illustrate the devastating impact that Israel\u2019s aerial bombardments are having on people in Gaza,\u201d a statement by the group read.<\/p>\n \u201cWe are calling on Israeli forces to immediately end unlawful attacks in Gaza and ensure that they take all feasible precautions to minimise harm to civilians and damage to civilian objects.\u201d<\/p>\n The actual number of war crimes committed by Israel since October 7 is estimated to be much higher, according to independent rights groups.<\/p>\n Till now, the United States and other global superpowers like Canada and the UK have not called for a ceasefire in Gaza despite mounting pressure from international human rights groups and civilian protesters<\/a> across the globe.<\/p>\n United States Secretary of State Anthony Blinken has urged world leaders to call for a \u201chumanitarian pause\u201d in Gaza, but not a ceasefire. According to Blinken, who met with Arab foreign ministers the past weekend, a ceasefire would \u201csimply leave Hamas in place, able to regroup and repeat what it did on Oct 7\u201d.<\/p>\n Blinken expressed interest in a humanitarian pause so that the return of foreign nationals and hostages could be negotiated with Hamas.<\/p>\n International charitable organisation Oxfam has argued<\/a> that a humanitarian pause simply isn\u2019t enough at this point in time and can potentially cause more harm than good, which is why a ceasefire is the only solution to bring about tangible change.<\/p>\n UN Secretary-General Ant\u00f3nio Guterres said<\/a> on Monday that \u201cthe unfolding catastrophe in Gaza makes the need for a humanitarian ceasefire more urgent with every passing hour.\u201d<\/p>\nCeasefire<\/h2>\n
Humanitarian ceasefire\/pause<\/h2>\n
Cessation of hostilities<\/h2>\n
Humanitarian corridor<\/h2>\n
Days of tranquility<\/h2>\n
War crimes<\/h2>\n
Truce<\/h2>\n
Armistice<\/h2>\n
De-escalation<\/h2>\n
Demilitarised zone<\/h2>\n
Peacekeeping operations\/missions<\/h2>\n
Peacebuilding<\/h2>\n
Humanitarian access<\/h2>\n
Protection of civilians<\/h2>\n
International Humanitarian Law (IHL)<\/h2>\n
\nThe term is also known as the law of war or the law of armed conflict.<\/p>\nWhat\u2019s going on right now?<\/h2>\n