One-sided truce

It was only a matter of time before the Gaza "ceasefire" began revealing its true character - a truce in name only, serving Israel's political calculus more than peace itself. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's latest assertions - that Israel retains the right to strike freely, veto participants in the international peacekeeping force and dismiss American dominance over its security - expose the hollowness of this arrangement.

Far from being a step toward stability, this ceasefire has effectively granted Israel breathing space to consolidate political control while evading accountability. The timing could not be more convenient. Facing mounting international scrutiny and a war crimes case at the ICC, Netanyahu now finds himself shielded under the banner of a US-brokered truce - one that President Donald Trump helped shape in ways that unmistakably bail him out of legal and diplomatic isolation. This is not peace. It is a pause for rearmament. Within days of the ceasefire, Israel's parliament passed a bill paving the way for annexation of the West Bank - a move that dismantles any pretence of a two-state solution. Meanwhile, Tel Aviv continues to treat Gaza as an occupied territory under indefinite military control, ignoring international law and humanitarian obligations. Over 68,000 Palestinians have been killed since October 2023, yet aid convoys still face obstruction as famine-like conditions deepen.

The world must recognise that Israel's post-war posture is not one of renewed dominance. By claiming veto power over international peacekeeping efforts and defining "security" on its own terms, Israel is positioning itself above global norms. The international community cannot afford to let this pass. If left unchecked, Netanyahu's government will not only continue to destabilise the Middle East but also erode the credibility of international institutions meant to safeguard peace. Beyond all, this is a dangerous precedent for global impunity.