October 15, 2025

Akahata editorial (excerpts)

A welcome development is unfolding that could mark a crucial step toward ending the two-year tragedy in Palestine’s Gaza Strip.

Hamas on October 13 released 20 hostages who had been abducted from Israel and held captive in Gaza. This is a pillar of the first stage of the 20-point Gaza peace plan which U.S. President Trump proposed in September. In exchange, Israel began discharging 250 long-term Palestinian prisoners and an additional 1,700 Gazans detained after Israel’s invasion in October 2023.

The latest agreement between Israel and Hamas needs to lead to a permanent peace, not just end as a temporary ceasefire.

Israel and Hamas agreed on a ceasefire in January. However, this agreement collapsed in a short period of time. It was because Israel in March refused to withdraw all troops from Gaza while demanding the release of hostages, and resumed strikes under the pretext that Hamas rejected its demand.

Furthermore, Israel, citing the need to put pressure on Hamas in negotiations, blocked the delivery of humanitarian aid and fuel to Gaza, which resulted in widespread starvation and escalated Israeli’s genocidal operation to another level.

This time, Israel and Hamas reached the ceasefire agreement under pressure from the international community. This opportunity should be used to realize a comprehensive and inclusive peace in Gaza as well as to implement the two-state solution which recognizes Palestinian’s right to self-determination. In this regard, the need is for the international community to take a firm stance against Israel’s violations of international law and humanitarian law. The Japanese government should play an active role to that effect.