A rare opening in Middle East

There is finally a glimmer of hope in Middle East following two years of brutal conflict. After the US president Donald Trump’s ambitious Gaza plan, Hamas has agreed to begin immediate peace talks, and expressed its openness to releasing hostages and ending the war. It is, however, silent on disarmament, something it has refused to do so far.

Over 66,000 Palestinians have been killed by Israel over the last two years. Gaza itself has been reduced to rubble. So, the prospect of peace, even a tenuous one, is an opportunity that the world can’t afford to miss.

At the heart of this new opportunity is US President Donald Trump’s peace plan. It calls for a ceasefire, the release of hostages within 72 hours, a phased Israeli withdrawal, and the disarmament of Hamas. While Hamas has so far not addressed the disarmament clause or its exclusion from future governance, its agreement to begin negotiations and hand over power in Gaza to a technocratic authority represents a meaningful departure from its previous positions.

The plan is far from perfect and leaves many critical questions unanswered. But perfect cannot be the enemy of what is possible. For now, the pressing task is to halt the bloodshed and begin the long, complex process of rebuilding trust, and Gaza itself.

It is encouraging that key international players, including Egypt, Qatar, Turkey, and European leaders, have expressed support for this moment. The United Nations has urged all sides to “seize the opportunity.” It is now incumbent on Israel to pause its military operations, which are still ongoing and snuffing out Palestinian lives.

This is a rare diplomatic opening that the parties to the conflict can’t afford to miss, as that could plunge the region into deeper chaos. With Gaza’s population desperate for relief and international opinion increasingly critical of continued military action, the cost of inaction is unthinkable. For the sake of those still alive, and the memory of the tens of thousands who are not, this chance at peace must not be squandered.