‘Give Trump the Nobel’: Netanyahu tweets amid Gaza’s mounting death toll
Jerusalem: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Thursday publicly called for US President Donald Trump to receive the Nobel Peace Prize, posting on X: “Give @realDonaldTrump the Nobel Peace Prize — he deserves it!”
The post included an AI-generated image showing Trump celebrating the award, with Netanyahu and supporters applauding under the slogan “Peace Through Strength.” The announcement came a day before the Nobel Committee is set to declare this year’s laureates.
A ceasefire after two years of devastation
The call for Trump’s recognition follows the announcement of a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, brokered in Egypt. The truce outlines a phased implementation: Hamas will release Israeli hostages, Israel will free hundreds of Palestinian prisoners, and Israeli forces will begin partial withdrawal from Gaza. Humanitarian aid access is expected to expand, with hundreds of trucks of relief supplies entering Gaza daily.
These measures come after two years of relentless conflict, during which tens of thousands of Palestinians have died and Gaza’s civilian infrastructure has been decimated. Israel launched military campaigns in response to Hamas attacks in 2023, which killed approximately 1,400 Israelis. Since then, the civilian population of Gaza has endured severe food and water shortages, lack of medical aid, mass displacement, and near-total blockade conditions.
Silence of the world
Throughout the conflict, global responses were largely muted. Despite the high civilian toll, many international actors offered limited intervention. Human rights groups consistently documented violations, including indiscriminate airstrikes, civilian deaths, and destruction of hospitals, schools, and homes. Yet, major powers largely refrained from direct action or condemnation that could pressure Israel or Hamas to halt the violence.
Opportunism and credit claiming
Trump has repeatedly positioned himself as the broker of “peace” in the region, linking his Middle East policies to ending what he described as “seven unendable wars.” In public statements, including addresses to the UN General Assembly, he claimed to have halted long-standing conflicts in countries such as Rwanda, Cambodia, and regions of the Balkans. Independent reports and UN data, however, show that most of these conflicts were either already dormant or had seen de-escalation prior to Trump’s interventions.
By publicly endorsing the ceasefire, Trump and Netanyahu are seen as seizing political capital. Trump’s statements highlight a pattern of credit claiming, framing the temporary truce in Gaza as evidence of his peacemaking credentials, even while the deeper issues of blockade, statehood, and regional stability remain unresolved.
Human cost overshadowed
While Netanyahu praised Trump for the ceasefire, the reality on the ground tells a starkly different story. Civilians in Gaza have suffered enormous loss: tens of thousands of deaths, homes destroyed, and a humanitarian crisis marked by starvation, disease, and trauma. The ceasefire, though a necessary step, does not undo years of systematic devastation.
UN Secretary-General António Guterres welcomed the ceasefire as a “significant step,” but emphasised that real progress requires full, safe, and sustained humanitarian access and political commitment toward a durable solution. Guterres warned that silencing the guns is insufficient without reconstruction and addressing the underlying causes of the conflict.
Temporary truce, unresolved crisis
Observers note that the ceasefire provides only a temporary pause in hostilities, not a lasting resolution. The blockade of Gaza, the question of Palestinian statehood, and Israel’s long-term security strategy remain unresolved. As Trump is lauded for “peace,” the suffering of ordinary people continues, with no clear plan to prevent future escalation or rebuild the shattered territory.