The ceasefire has begun. We do not know if it will hold or if the parties will stick to the deal to return Israeli hostages and release Palestinian prisoners. We certainly don’t know what will happen beyond the initial period. The ceasefire agreement is very far from a plan for the future of Gaza, let alone a blueprint for peace.

We do know that the war, begun by Hamas’ October 7 attack, has come at a tremendous cost for both Israelis and for Palestinians.

 

In this special edition to mark the ceasefire, Ben Lynfield reports on the high price paid by Gazans and Shahar Burla counts the cost for Israelis. Eetta Prince-Gibson analyses the damage to Israeli society of a controversial war ; Ittay Flescher talks to Israelis about how their lives have been affected; and Mati Shemoelof reflects on the complex emotions of Israelis in the Diaspora. There are other costs we have covered over the past 15 months: the polarisation of both Jewish and general communities over the conflict; the collapse of interfaith relations; the growth in antisemitism faced by Diaspora Jews, not least in Australia; the loss of faith in the possibility of peaceful co-existence.