US President Donald Trump expressed optimism on Friday that a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas may be reached soon.
Speaking during an Oval Office appearance, he noted that discussions with key figures involved in the process suggested an agreement could come within the week. Trump’s surprise prediction of a possible ceasefire deal in the coming days came at a time when there have been few signs that the warring parties were ready to restart serious negotiations or budge from entrenched positions.
The remarks of the US President raise hopes about an end to the bloodshed of Palestinians, which began in October 2023 and continues to-date because of the US backing of the Jewish state and scuttling of all efforts including those at the UN to seek a halt to the massive brutalities against unarmed Palestinians. However, it is quite obvious that the United States is not attaching the same priority to the ceasefire in Gaza as it did in the case of the Pakistan-India war or the Iran-Israel conflict. The reason is understandable – the closest of the allies of the United States enjoys a clear edge in the Gaza war and there is almost nil to negligible resistance from Hamas, which is unable to inflict losses on Tel Aviv that could form the basis for an urgency for the ceasefire. The infrastructure of Gaza including the water system and medical institutions have totally been destroyed and aid convoys as well as aid seekers are being bombed by Israel in line with its strategy to push Palestinians towards starvation. What a shame that the international community is not being allowed to distribute much needed food and medicines but narcotics pills of the type Oxycodone has been discovered inside flour bags distributed by the US-Israeli backed aid centres in the enclave. This suggests Israel is using every conceivable tactic to annihilate Palestinians or render the entire population ineffective. There is also another sinister design in the works – Israeli army has ordered new evacuation orders affecting multiple areas in Gaza. Under these circumstances, it is not sure the expected ceasefire will bring any relief for the war ravaged territory and its residents.
