Love him or loathe him, it is hard to deny that Donald Trump’s unique brand of diplomacy has, at times, produced unexpected breakthroughs. After brokering a ceasefire between India and Pakistan last month, he put his stamp on truces between Israel and Iran, and, of late, now between Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Yet these breakthroughs have come only after a series of quiet negotiations and behind-the-scenes efforts by key regional players. The Israel-Iran ceasefire seeks to end a deadly war that brought the Middle East to the brink of a catastrophic regional conflict, offering a glimmer of hope for ending a confrontation that has cost many lives and devastated civilian infrastructure.
The hard-won peace deal has triggered global optimism, with world leaders expressing hope that this fragile ceasefire might pave the way for a lasting diplomatic solution to the region’s challenges. UN Secretary-General António Guterres has offered the organisation’s resources to help monitor the agreement — a clear sign of the international community’s longing for peace.
However, concerns remain over the truce’s durability. Iran’s commitment appears conditional on Israel’s adherence to its obligations, while Israel’s official response remains ambiguous. The underlying mistrust that has long defined their relationship casts a shadow over this tentative peace. The absence of a formal, signed accord further deepens the fragility of the arrangement.
Without sustained diplomacy and a shared commitment to address the root causes of conflict, including the deeper Middle Eastern disputes that have festered for generations, this ceasefire risks being little more than a temporary pause in hostilities.
President Trump may talk of lasting peace across the Middle East, but such aspirations are futile unless the long-standing issue of Palestine is resolved. Israel’s brutal military campaigns in Gaza, combined with a crippling blockade that has left 93% of children — nearly a million — at risk of famine, not only deepen the humanitarian crisis but also jeopardise the very foundation of the ceasefire.
While the truce has brought a temporary halt to immediate hostilities, it remains a fragile accord. Without a just, inclusive solution that upholds the legitimate rights and dignity of the Palestinian people, the ceasefire will eventually unravel, putting regional stability and global peace at grave risk.
The unresolved question of Palestinian statehood remains a formidable obstacle to lasting peace. Decades of conflict have inflicted unimaginable suffering, displaced millions, and stoked fury across the Muslim world. The growing anger at Israel’s aggression is not merely a passing phase of outrage — it is a ticking time bomb that could, at any moment, ignite a wider conflagration involving multiple regional actors.
The peace is illusory not only because of a lack of a sustainable framework supporting the ceasefire but also because of the unpredictable politics US and its unjust support to Israel.
Roadmap for Real Peace
Achieving genuine, long-term peace in the Middle East demands serious, sustained efforts by Israeli and Palestinian leaders, supported by meaningful international engagement. Cosmetic measures or attempts to shift responsibility will only entrench mistrust and delay an inevitable reckoning.
The global community — and Israel in particular — must recognise the Palestinian people’s legitimate right to dignity and sovereignty. A viable peace plan, supported by global powers, is essential if we are to break the cycle of violence and secure a future free from conflict.
Failure to address this core dispute leaves the door open to proxy forces, regional interference, and the risk of a full-scale war that would carry catastrophic human and economic costs.
In the same way, a real peace in South Asia between India and Pakistan is dependent on dispensing justice to the people of Jammu and Kashmir. Trump’s recent offer to mediate on Kashmir has rekindled hope for a more stable region.
It is essential that all stakeholders seize this opportunity to engage in genuine, results-oriented dialogue. Only then can we hope to prevent the kind of disaster that nearly unfolded when India and Pakistan were brought to the brink of war following an attack on tourists in Pahalgam.
For decades, the people in conflicting regions have endured unimaginable suffering in pursuit of rights denied to them by a world that too often turns away. Their legitimate political aspirations cannot be ignored forever. The time for half-hearted gestures is over. Peace in the Middle East and South Asia is not merely a regional necessity — it is a global imperative.
It is time to reject the systematic injustice, to abandon jingoism, and to let peace prevail. Without a just and honourable way that recognises the rights of people, peace will remain a distant dream, and instability will continue to haunt the Middle East and South Asia.
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