Reunions and rubble: Gaza’s first moments of peace
Jan 20, 2025
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Anshul Pfeffer, Israel correspondent for The Economist, shares insights on the recent Gaza ceasefire and the emotional reunions it inspired. He discusses the political hurdles facing Israel's leadership and the internal strife among Palestinian factions. The potential for lasting peace is examined amidst ongoing challenges. Additionally, Pfeffer explores Britain's minimum wage rise, its implications for wage dynamics, and the growing recognition of hypnosis in medicine, highlighting its therapeutic benefits and barriers to acceptance.
The recent ceasefire in Gaza has led to both celebrations of returned hostages and the sobering reality of widespread destruction, necessitating extensive rebuilding efforts.
Britain's minimum wage rise has sparked wage compression, challenging perceptions of fairness and equality in the labor market, particularly for skilled professions.
Deep dives
Impact of Minimum Wage Increase on Job Market
The recent rise in Britain's minimum wage has created a notable phenomenon known as wage compression, where the pay gap between skilled and unskilled labor narrows significantly. With the minimum wage set to increase by 6.7% to £12.21 an hour, this change has raised concerns regarding the starting salaries of graduate positions, which now hover close to the minimum wage. This shift has incited debate on fairness versus equality, especially when comparing the earnings of junior doctors, who undergo extensive training, to entry-level positions in unskilled roles. The result has been a potential impact on career choices and a deeper examination of the value placed on skilled professions versus minimum wage jobs, prompting discussions about disparities in the labor market.
Dynamics of the Ceasefire in Gaza
The recent ceasefire agreement in Gaza marks a critical moment in ongoing tensions, with the release of hostages by Hamas and Palestinian prisoners by Israel initiating a fragile truce. Following the ceasefire's commencement, a mix of celebrations and devastation emerged, as Gazans began returning to their homes, many of which lay in ruins. Reports highlight a stark reality where significant infrastructure has been destroyed, making rebuilding efforts a daunting challenge that requires extensive resources and international support. As both sides navigate this truce, the political landscape within Israel reflects a complex dynamic, signifying potential risks to the future of the agreement and the region's stability.
The Evolving Role of Hypnosis in Medicine
Hypnosis is witnessing a resurgence in the medical community as research uncovers its efficacy in managing pain, anxiety, and other conditions, challenging previous perceptions of it as mere entertainment. Clinical studies demonstrate that patients undergoing surgical procedures with hypnosis may experience less pain and require fewer sedatives, indicating its potential benefits in health settings. Despite the promising findings, hypnosis faces challenges regarding regulation and acceptance, with unqualified practitioners in the field contributing to its stigma. As a result, while some medical professionals harness its advantages, broader integration into healthcare remains limited, leaving many potential patients without access to this therapeutic option.
Quiet skies, returned Israeli hostages, Gazans going back home: there is much to celebrate, for the moment. We examine the path to a more robust and lasting peace. Britain’s minimum-wage rise is good news for those who earned less—but those who earned not much more are feeling more squeezed (9:45). And the medical merits of hypnosis are at last becoming recognised (16:50).
