"The worst form of injustice is pretended justice” – Plato
Yesterday, Thursday, dawned with the joyful news that the most heinous genocide witnessed by the world was finally coming to an end. There was unanimous agreement on the first phase proposals of the peace plan. According to Arab media reports, the atmosphere in Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt, where the talks were held, was one of celebration as the parleys concluded. The confirmation of the news through a social media post by U.S. President Donald Trump sparked scenes of relief and joy on the streets of both Tel Aviv and Gaza. Hamas, Israel, and all the mediating nations have warmly welcomed the ceasefire agreement. Peace advocates and human rights and democracy activists across the globe, who have long stood for Palestine, now look forward with hope to the continuation of talks, believing this could pave the way towards lasting peace and freedom for Palestine. U.S. President Donald Trump, who had until now fully supported Israel’s relentless campaign of genocide, stepped into the role of a peace envoy under the pressure of international criticism and, some believe, out of an ambition to win the Nobel Prize. Claiming the leading part in peace efforts that had long been pursued by various countries and agencies, Trump announced the ceasefire through his own social media platform, with a sense of pride that he stood above all democratic systems. In his post, he described the agreement as the first step toward strong and lasting peace, stating that Israel would withdraw its troops to a “suitable” area, that all hostages would be released immediately, and that every party involved would be treated with fairness. Later, in an interview with Fox News, Trump expressed gratitude to the mediators from Qatar, Egypt, and Turkey who had worked alongside him to make what he described as a historic and unprecedented agreement possible. He remarked, “Blessed are the peacemakers!”
While some view Trump's actions as reflecting sincerity and genuine intent, others argue that the international systems meant to stand for peace and justice had collapsed into empty platforms of condemnation, crumbling along with Gaza—something they believe bodes ill for the future. Yet, despite these doubts, many take comfortin the fact that, in whatever form, peace seems to be dawning in Palestine and the genocide appears to be ending. The fact that even Israeli political parties and military leadership, who had previously opposed peace talks, welcomed the ceasefire agreement has further strengthened hopes that the war may finally come to an end. Israel's prime minister, president, and opposition parties have all expressed gratitude to Trump and his team, even going so far as to demand that he be awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. The Israeli president has also extended an invitation for Trump and his delegation to visit Israel. Meanwhile, Hamas and other Palestinian resistance movements, while acknowledging Trump’s efforts, have urged Arab and Islamic nations as well as the international community and Trump himself to ensure that Israel's occupation government fully implements the terms of the agreement. These include ending the war in Gaza, withdrawing from the occupied territories, initiating urgent humanitarian aid, and releasing prisoners. They stressed that Israel must not be allowed to evade or delay the commitments that were mutually agreed upon. They have already announced that the exchange of hostages and prisoners will take place by Saturday. While some details of the agreement still need to be clarified, all sides have reached a consensus on bringing the war to a halt.
The genocide in Gaza has stirred the conscience of people across the world, reinforcing the necessity of standing up for justice and for the right of peoples to self-determination. As the world recognises that Israel’s brutal assault marks a decisive moment in the history of international relations, the rebuilding of Gaza can become a symbol of the revival of global moral conscience. What was destroyed in the bombings of Gaza was not just its buildings, but humanity itself and the very values of democracy. Finding solutions through dialogue rooted in compassion is itself a form of resilience of humanity. UN Commissioner Navi Pillay’s assessment of the ceasefire agreement was precise: the deal does not overturn the UN’s conclusion that Israel bears responsibility for genocide. The mere existence of a ceasefire call does not erase the evidence of atrocities. The Palestine issue, dating back to the 1920s, has been marked by repeated violations of settlement agreements by both Israel and international systems. This legacy of broken promises, observers note, will be the greatest challenge facing mediators and Trump in the future. While the ceasefire has been widely welcomed, Israel’s continuing assaults in northern Gaza underscore that its drive to kill Palestinians has not yet come to an end. Therefore, the responsibility for Gaza’s reconstruction should not fall solely on the Gulf nations acting as mediators, but must also be borne by the United States and Israel, who played a role in prolonging the war. Israel’s political leadership, in particular, must be held accountable through fair trials. As Martin Luther King reminded the world, "True peace is not merely the absence of tension; it is the presence of justice.”—a truth that the global conscience must not forget.