Gaza: the Sad Joke of the Truce (Hudna)
Gaza was supposed to be an example delivered from the land for peace-ers for us doubters regarding that land for peace actually works. In a way, I was quite curious as to see how this would all pan out – land for peace has been debated for decades, but this was the first time to really see what would happen if ever implemented. Well we have our answer — it’s an utter failure. Those who remain in this camp have a lot of explaining to do.
Who knows if the truce will be re-implemented. I for one have no problem with a “cold” peace with Gaza. The problem is that this is not a cold peace from the perspective of Hamas — it is a time for them to rearm, regroup, and prepare for future conflict. There is constant reference to the famous Hudna (truce) of Mohammed, where Mohammed, living in Medina, made a temporary truce with the Meccans. During this time, he prepared Medina for war with Mecca, subsequently conquered Mecca, and went on to future conquests.
According to an interpretation of Islamic law (Umdat as-Salik, a medieval summary of Shafi’i jurisprudence), hudnas with a non-Muslim enemy should be limited to 10 years: “if Muslims are weak, a truce may be made for ten years if necessary, for the Prophet made a truce with the Quraysh [the Meccan Hudna] for that long, as is related by Abu Dawud” (‘Umdat as-Salik, o9.16). Hamas officials have confirmed this interpretation. For example, Hamas Abdel Aziz al-Rantissi referring to Hamas’ decision to pursue a hudna, said that it was limited to ten years and was decided upon because it would be “difficult to liberate all our land at this stage; the hudna would however not signal a recognition of the state of Israel.”
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