At last, there is a small opening for peace in Gaza. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar have both welcomed Hamas’s positive response to the US peace plan presented by President Donald Trump.
The world has also greeted this step with hope. After months of bombings and bloodshed, the possibility of a ceasefire feels like a breath of fresh air. The prime minister said this was the closest moment to peace since the genocide began. He expressed thanks to Trump and to countries like Qatar, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Turkiye, Jordan, Egypt, and Indonesia for trying to mediate. He also promised that Pakistan would keep working with its partners to push for lasting peace in Palestine. Dar echoed these words, stressing that this response from Hamas must now bring an immediate end to suffering, release of hostages, and free flow of humanitarian aid.
The Foreign Office also welcomed the development, calling it a chance to stop bloodshed and build a path toward a just political process. Pakistan reaffirmed its strong support for the Palestinian cause, standing for a state based on pre-1967 borders with Al-Quds Al-Sharif as the capital.
Yet while we welcome peace, we must also be careful. Both Israel and President Trump are not known for being reliable partners in past peace efforts. Israel has often used talks as a cover while continuing attacks and settlements.
Trump himself has shifted positions before, sometimes favouring one side too openly. The danger is that these promises may again become words without action. So Pakistan must celebrate the opening, but with eyes wide open. True peace will come only when it is just, fair, and lasting – not when it is built on temporary deals or broken promises. For the sake of Palestine, Pakistan should keep pressing the world to hold Israel accountable and ensure that this window of hope is not shut once more. *