Israel Declares Victory, Calls for Lasting Peace

 

After two years of intense conflict, Israel has declared victory over Hamas, marking the official end of the war that began on October 7, 2023. The announcement came as former U.S. President Donald Trump arrived in Israel to witness the release of Israeli hostages.

The agreement ending the war includes a crucial exchange: Hamas is to release all hostages, whether alive or dead, while Israel will free several Palestinian prisoners. Many of the hostages held by Hamas were American citizens, a detail that added international weight to the negotiations.

This long and bloody war began when Hamas attacked Israel during a Jewish holy day. The attack triggered an unrelenting military response that left Gaza in ruins. Satellite images and videos circulating online show an apocalyptic landscape, collapsed buildings, deserted streets, and cities reduced to rubble.

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Observers have compared the devastation to post war Berlin, describing Gaza as a ghost city. The destruction has fueled urgent calls for humanitarian aid, reconstruction, and stability in the region.

While the guns may have fallen silent, the path to peace remains uncertain. Hamas and the Palestinian Authority, the two dominant political forces within Palestine, remain deeply divided. One of the conditions of the ceasefire requires Hamas to withdraw completely from Gaza and relinquish administrative control of the territory. Whether the group will accept this remains unclear.

If Hamas walks away, many within the movement may question what the years of fighting and thousands of deaths achieved. Yet, for the sake of civilians caught in the crossfire, world leaders are urging restraint and reconciliation.

The creation of a recognized Palestinian state remains a central issue. Despite resistance from Israel and the United States, several world powers, including France and the United Kingdom, have endorsed the idea. This move angered Israel, which sees the recognition as premature and politically motivated.

Still, many analysts believe that a two-state solution is the only sustainable path toward peace. But Hamas’s continued influence and Iran’s alleged sponsorship of the group pose significant challenges.

The people of Gaza now face the monumental task of rebuilding, not just homes and roads, but lives shattered by war. For peace to take root, mutual respect and coexistence must replace hate and revenge.

History offers a reminder: power shifts, but peace sustains. The same Israel that once faced annihilation now stands strong in the Middle East. The lesson is clear: nations rise when they choose peace over hate.

May this ceasefire not just mark the end of a war but the beginning of a lasting peace in Israel, Palestine, and the Middle East.

 

 

Content Credit : Boluatife Abiola

Image Credit  : Google. Com