Towards peace?

Hamas's conditional acceptance of the Gaza peace plan proposed by US President Donald Trump is a welcoming development and a hopeful step towards revival of dialogue after nearly two years of unrelenting war. The ceasefire proposal, though tentative, represents a fingers-crossed attempt to bring the warring parties back to the negotiating table and chart an amicable way forward for a region long engulfed in bloodshed and despair.

Yet, even amid cautious optimism, Israel's actions once again betray the hollowness of its commitment to peace. Within hours of Hamas signalling its willingness to negotiate on key points of the proposal, Israeli forces carried out yet another deadly drone strike — this time on a tent in al-Mawasi, killing two children.

Trump's sudden re-engagement on the Gaza issue has added a new dimension to the stalled negotiations, but the US must recognise that peace cannot be achieved through selective enforcement. A ceasefire is not a rhetorical commitment. It demands restraint, accountability and respect for international law. If Washington truly seeks to end this genocidal campaign, it must ensure that Israel's pledges are matched by verifiable actions on the ground.

Empty statements and vague timelines only perpetuate the cycle of mistrust and violence. For the people of Gaza, the so-called "unusual quietness" reported after Hamas's announcement offered only a fleeting reprieve. Smoke still rises in the north, and the rumble of Israeli vehicles continues — reminders that the machinery of war has not truly stopped. Until Israel halts its aggression and allows humanitarian access without preconditions, talk of ceasefire remains a cruel illusion.

The world must see through the duplicity. A ceasefire cannot coexist with airstrikes, nor can peace be negotiated at gunpoint. If Israel genuinely wishes to turn the page, it must match Hamas's partial acceptance with full compliance — not further bloodshed.