Gaza: erasing progress

Since the start of the Gaza war in October 2023, Israel has left no stone unturned in ensuring that it breaks as many articles of the Geneva Convention as it possibly can. Now, another act could potentially be added to the so-called state's extensive list of war crimes - expelling Palestinians from the Gaza Strip entirely. Currently, Israel is seeking US President Donald Trump's backing to begin transferring Palestinians from their own home to foreign lands that are willing to accept them but also want Trump's approval.

This war of disparate powers has already subjugated Palestinians to conditions they are hard-pressed to escape. It has introduced famine to the once-thriving region, obstructed basic healthcare facilities, impeded international support and continued the illegal killing of Palestinians despite a supposed ceasefire. If Israel were to succeed in expelling Palestinians from their own territory, that would be considered the final nail in the coffin of ethnic cleansing and genocide.

It seems that the decision entirely hinges on Trump's approval and subsequently, the rejection of his performative Board of Peace - an international body overseeing the Gaza peace plan and post-conflict governance. It must be duly noted that the 20-point peace plan introduced by the White House last year makes no mention of Palestinians deportation. It solely outlines clauses like the disarmament of Hamas and the captives' release.

Countries that are on Trump's good side - like Pakistan - should find it their moral and humanitarian responsibility to ensure that the Israeli plan for ethnic cleaning does not come to fruition. The fight for Gaza has not yet ended. With winter soon approaching, millions of people are still trapped, and families are still living in tents amidst the rubble. A deportation plan will only mean going back on any progress that has been made by now, even if it has been meagre.