[News in War History] Israel and Hamas Enter Temporary Ceasefire... Differences Between Ceasefire and Armistice

Temporary Truce for Hostage Exchange Over 4 Days
Ceasefire as 'Armistice' Mediated by Third Party
South Korea, the Longest Armistice State in History

Israel and Hamas have entered a temporary ceasefire for hostage exchange after 48 days of conflict. Both sides have agreed to a four-day ceasefire to begin a phased release of hostages, which has been welcomed by the international community. Behind the scenes, negotiations led by the United States, Western countries, and Arab League nations are ongoing to extend the ceasefire period further.

Accordingly, there is cautious speculation that the ceasefire period might be extended or a formal armistice agreement might be reached after the temporary ceasefire ends, mediated by the international community. Although the Israeli government has stated its intention to resume fighting immediately after the temporary ceasefire, voices opposing prolonged conflict are growing both inside and outside Israel. Criticism of the Benjamin Netanyahu administration is also increasing, making it unlikely that the war will continue indefinitely.

Historically, ceasefires or armistice agreements rarely had fixed durations, so extensions are expected depending on negotiations. There are also regions where ceasefire or armistice states have been prolonged for decades, such as the Korean Peninsula, where the armistice with North Korea has lasted over 70 years.

In this article, we will explore the history of ceasefire, armistice, and end of war?terms that are quite ambiguous under international law?and briefly examine the ceasefire issue between Israel and Hamas.

◆News: Israel and Hamas Agree to Four-Day Ceasefire, Hostage Exchange Begins

[Image source=UPI Yonhap News]

First, let's look at the news. According to the Times of Israel on the 24th (local time), Israel and the Palestinian armed faction Hamas have entered a four-day temporary ceasefire. This ceasefire, after 48 days of fighting, is aimed at exchanging hostages. Two rounds of hostage exchanges took place by the 25th. In each exchange, 13 Israeli hostages were swapped for 39 Palestinian prisoners, maintaining a 1:3 ratio.

The Qatari government, mediating between the two countries, stated, "An agreement has been reached on the list of civilians to be released from the Gaza Strip," emphasizing that "during the four-day ceasefire, fighting will be completely halted not only in northern Gaza but also in the south." Israel and Hamas have agreed to release hostages at a 1:3 ratio during the ceasefire, resulting in the phased exchange of 50 Israelis and 150 Palestinians.

The U.S. government and the international community have warmly welcomed this ceasefire agreement and hope it will lead to a longer-term ceasefire. Even after this hostage exchange concludes, Hamas is believed to still hold over 190 hostages, so stopping the fighting and continuing negotiations are essential to ensure the hostages' safety and reduce civilian casualties.

However, the Israeli government has emphasized that intense fighting will resume immediately after the temporary ceasefire. Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant stated, "Once the short temporary ceasefire with the terrorist group Hamas ends, the Israeli military will resume fierce combat for at least two months," adding, "We must continue fighting to win the war and gain momentum for the release of the next hostages."

By setting the temporary ceasefire period at four days, the Israeli government is expected to face growing controversy domestically and internationally. Many Israelis hope the ceasefire will be extended as negotiations for hostage exchange continue. Given that ceasefire agreements typically do not fix durations strictly, the possibility of extension remains a topic of discussion.

◆History 1: The Hundred Years' War Between France and England Where the Concept of Ceasefire Negotiations Took Root

A painting depicting the Battle of Agincourt in 1415, one of the major battles of the Hundred Years' War.
[Image source=Biblioth?que nationale de France (BnF)]

Ceasefire negotiations developed in medieval Europe, where prolonged wars were common. In ancient times, wars were usually decided by large-scale battles on the battlefield, leading either to continued fighting or the end of war. However, from the medieval period, when many fortified castles capable of long-term defense were built, ceasefires became more frequent.

Large castles with ample supplies could withstand sieges for over ten years, so attackers could not maintain continuous offensives. As a result, while the war itself did not end ('End of War'), intense fighting that consumed resources was temporarily halted through 'Ceasefire.' In the medieval period, terms like Truce, Ceasefire, and Armistice were used interchangeably to mean ceasefire.

Notably, the Hundred Years' War (1337?1453) between England and France, which involved over a century of intermittent fighting and ceasefires, is divided into three phases based on ceasefire treaties. The first phase spans from the outbreak of war in 1337 to the first ceasefire treaty in 1360; the second phase covers the period from the resumption of war in 1369 to the second ceasefire treaty in 1389; and the third phase extends from the breakdown of the ceasefire in 1415 until the war's end in 1453.

Until then, once a ceasefire was established, it often lasted for several years or even decades, making it difficult to distinguish from the end of war. This was because standing armies did not exist, and knights and peasants were mobilized only when war broke out. European states in the medieval period had limited production capacity for food and other resources, and their fragile finances could not sustain prolonged warfare, preventing the maintenance of large armies for extended periods.

The concept of relatively short ceasefires lasting days or months emerged only after the 19th century. A representative example is the 'Christmas Truce' on the Western Front between Germany and France during World War I in 1914.

During the Christmas holiday, German and French troops ceased fighting along the Western Front, sang Christmas carols together, and even played sports like soccer in some areas. This was not a ceasefire negotiated by the governments but a spontaneous truce between commanders on the front lines, which attracted significant attention. In 2007, the European film "Merry Christmas" was released, depicting this Christmas Truce.

◆History 2: The Classification of Ceasefire and Armistice Beginning After World War II

On September 2, 1945, the Japanese surrender document was signed aboard the USS Missouri, anchored at Yokohama Port, Japan. [Image source=U.S. Navy History and Heritage Command]

After World War II, the concept of 'Armistice (停戰)' emerged, carrying a slightly different meaning from ceasefire. With the establishment of the United Nations (UN) and numerous international organizations, these bodies began mediating between warring parties to bring about ceasefires, leading to the formalization of the armistice concept.

Previously, ceasefire and end of war were not clearly distinguished, but after this period, they became classified separately. Although the English terms for ceasefire and end of war are not perfectly distinct, they now carry significantly different nuances.

Ceasefire refers to a situation like the current one between Israel and Hamas, where the warring parties negotiate to halt fighting temporarily for purposes such as hostage exchange. This involves mutual conditions and results in an immediate cessation of hostilities. However, if the conditions are not met, the agreement can be broken at any time.

Armistice has a slightly different meaning. It refers to a cessation of hostilities mediated by international organizations or powerful countries, rather than a direct agreement between the warring parties. As a result, armistice is considered less voluntary than ceasefire. However, when powerful mediators and multiple countries are involved, it becomes difficult for the warring parties to resume fighting arbitrarily.

Of course, these two concepts have rarely been applied strictly in practice. Ceasefire and armistice agreements have been signed and broken repeatedly depending on the situation in each conflict zone, leading to ongoing confusion.

◆Implication: The Korean Peninsula, the World's Longest Armistice Zone

President Yoon Suk-yeol visited the Sangseung Observation Post of the 25th Army Division in Yeoncheon-gun, Gyeonggi-do, on the 1st of last month to mark Armed Forces Day and inspected the barbed wire fence along the Demilitarized Zone. [Image source=Yonhap News]

The history of ceasefire and armistice agreements is closely related to Korea. The Korean Peninsula is currently the world's longest-standing armistice zone. Since the armistice agreement was signed on July 27, 1953, the armistice state has continued for over 70 years. The Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) cutting across the peninsula serves as a constant reminder that the Korean War has not officially ended.

Not only Korea but also the island nation of Cyprus in the eastern Mediterranean has a 'UN Buffer Zone' similar to Korea's DMZ. This buffer zone was established after the 1974 war between Turkey and Greece, which divided the island into north and south, creating a large buffer zone running through the island's center.

This shows that excessively prolonged ceasefires can lead to the division of territory. The reason Israel and Hamas are attempting to resume fighting after a short ceasefire appears to be influenced by such historical precedents. We hope both sides will move beyond ceasefire and swiftly reach a peace agreement.