After 15 months of devastating conflict, a ceasefire deal between Israel and the Palestinian group Hamas, which went into effect last month, allowed a temporary reprieve of more than two million Palestinians in the enclave. However, this fragile peace is overshadowed by the ongoing crisis, characterized by continued Israeli violations, pervasive humanitarian distress, and political manoeuvring that appear detached from the harsh realities on the ground. While the announcement of the release of 336 Palestinian prisoners may sound momentarily uplifting, it does little to address the deeper, troubling patterns of geopolitical indifference. The cycle of distrust and violence will not be broken by mere gestures; it requires a sincere engagement with the lived experiences of the millions affected by this conflict. Instead of fostering genuine dialogue, recent proposals, including those emerging from the Trump administration, threaten to entrench divisions further. Simply framing a takeover of Gaza with “humanitarian” rhetoric does not mask the sinister implications of such plans. The reactions from the Arab world, as well as growing condemnation from U.S. allies, serve as a potent reminder that an unhinged eviction of 2.3 million Palestinians is not just unacceptable-it is a blueprint for exacerbating an already dire situation. Far from paving the way to lasting peace, such erratic tactics will only compound the suffering of a population already devastated by displacement, giving Israel a pretext to further tighten its grip on Gaza, creating unbearable conditions for its inhabitants. The recent condemnation of Mr Trump’s proposal as a form of ethnic cleansing by hundreds of Jewish rabbis is an indictment of a plan that fails to recognize the humanitarian crisis’s roots in historical occupation and violence. Have American authorities lost sight of the fact that any meaningful proposal must engage with these harsh realities rather than evade them? Peace cannot be built on shallow assurances or vague promises. It would be wise for Trump and other Western leaders to consider the fragility of the current ceasefire between Hamas and Israel. More must be done-not just to sustain aid delivery but to create an environment where genuine dialogue can flourish. Without addressing the fundamental issues driving this conflict, any effort toward peace will be futile, leaving millions vulnerable to renewed cycles of despair. *