Mubashar Nadeem
The ceasefire between Iran and Israel may have averted a wider regional war, but the international community must now focus its diplomatic energy on ending the ongoing atrocities in Gaza. For 12 tense days following Israel’s strike on Iran, the world watched anxiously, aware that an escalation could disrupt the global geopolitical and economic order.
Despite having initiated hostilities against Iran, Israel has relentlessly continued its military operations in Gaza. Since late May, over 500 Palestinians have been killed, many in tragic scenes where starving civilians were gunned down while attempting to secure food. As the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights’ spokesperson rightly stated, “The Israeli military must stop shooting at people trying to get food.”
During a NATO summit in The Hague, U.S. President Donald Trump claimed that there had been “great progress” toward a ceasefire in Gaza. However, such statements must be met with caution. Since the war began on October 7, 2023, numerous ceasefire efforts have collapsed in the face of Israel’s persistent aggression. Under the guise of targeting Hamas for its initial assault, Israel has carried out a sweeping campaign in Gaza that bears the hallmarks of collective punishment and ethnic cleansing.
The double standards of Israel’s Western allies are glaring. Many who express concern over the repression of Iranians have remained silent—or complicit—as Palestinians suffer under far more brutal and sustained violence. This selective empathy reveals a deeply entrenched hypocrisy.
President Trump recently voiced his frustration with Israel for violating the ceasefire with Iran, using blunt language. He must now show similar moral clarity regarding Gaza. The Iran-Israel ceasefire illustrates that when the United States applies genuine pressure, Israel responds. That agreement was expedited largely due to fears over Iran’s threat to close the Strait of Hormuz—a move that would have had severe global economic consequences.
Yet, while the global elite rally swiftly to protect markets and oil routes, the mass suffering of Palestinians elicits little more than hollow statements. This apathy toward human life, especially that of starving children in Gaza, is indefensible.
The time has come for Western powers—particularly the United States—to demand a permanent ceasefire in Gaza and to hold those responsible for war crimes in the occupied Palestinian territories accountable. The global commitment to justice must not be conditional on political convenience.
