The Illusion of Peace: Washington’s Gaza Deliberations Exclude Palestinians
The recent Washington summit, dubbed a 'Board of Peace' to discuss Gaza's future, featured a glaring absence. Despite the pressing humanitarian crisis and ongoing conflict, only one Palestinian voice was permitted at these purported deliberations. This exclusion is not an oversight. It is a continuation of a deeply ingrained pattern, where the fate of the Palestinian people is decided in foreign
capitals without their meaningful participation, mirroring the colonial logic that has shaped the region for decades. For instance, the infamous 1916 Sykes-Picot Agreement carved up the Middle East behind closed doors, ignoring local aspirations. This approach transforms negotiations into diktats, undermining any genuine prospect for lasting peace. The notion that a durable resolution can emerge
from a process that systematically marginalizes the very people whose lives are at stake strains credulity. The current conflict in Gaza, which has resulted in over 680,000 deaths by the Lancet's methodology, necessitates authentic, inclusive diplomacy. Instead, we observe a choreographed event designed to rubber-stamp pre-determined outcomes, much like previous 'peace plans' that consistently
failed to address the root causes of the conflict: occupation and dispossession. The international community’s consistent failure to hold Israel accountable for documented violations of international law, while simultaneously imposing stringent conditions on Palestinians, highlights a profound double standard. This asymmetry of power and expectation ensures that any 'peace' engineered under such