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By Emmanuel Williams

I don’t think Trump is suddenly a hero now.

You can’t just lead a stubborn horse to water and expect that when he’s done drinking, he won’t be so difficult. He will, he’ll just be a refreshed pain in the ass.

Tomorrow is the anniversary of the Gaza War. 2 years ago Hamas stormed the Israel border killing 1200 and stealing 250 Israeli people, after which Israel has refused to stop retaliating, killing what has now been estimated to be 67,160 and injuring 170,000 since October 7, 2023 (Samy Magdy et al., 2025).

Bombs are still being dropped all over Gaza while Hamas has not returned fire with any aggression having been reduced to a defensive stance as they hold on to their hostages as leverage for demands which at this point are only the release of any detainees Israel has gained in its land offensive into and across Gaza. A former home of the people of Palestine, which itself is now mostly rubble and tents. Any remaining buildings may soon be gone if Israel believes it is housing members of Hamas, or is in the way of protecting their boots in the region.

Today’s deal on the table has been put together by the Trump Administration, and our US President must have had some highly qualified help because so far, both Israel and Hamas have shown interest in coming to the table to at least review (in Hamas’) case, and even to approve the entire deal publicly while being hosted by The White House (Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu), introducing the latest offer as an ultimatum that if it isn’t agreed to, the mission to obliterate Hamas will go forward with all aggression required with no option of diplomatic resolution here on out.

Meanwhile Palestinians starve, cowering in tents, giving birth and raising children in intolerable conditions, some being murdered as they stand in soup lines hoping for aid that they spend day after day fighting to have access to.

From a modern day view, this is an atrocity of wild degrees, and I believe that this is true. Even if historically the discovery and conquest of nations has given us the world’s boundary lines in nearly every century of human existence. 

The only difference is that we as a collective conscience have evolved to the place where conquest is barred by international peace keeping communities (as is the intention of NATO) and shunned by activist groups, protest, and tv journalists with the entire hour to speak their mind on issues of the day along with experts whose opinions are soaked in data then dried out as they either support, report, or condemn the atrocities of the day.

These days you can’t invade your neighbor without resistance from international pressures. Russia may desire Ukraine, but the European Union will not stand for it. The United States formerly opposed the fall of Ukraine but under current administration, Ukraine’s list of pressured concessions has grown largely due to President Trump’s support of Putin, who may allegedly be a ‘friend’ of the president.

So yes, half of me wishes these two humongous conflicts would resolve as soon as possible, and with the least amount of future casualties. Because no matter how you view history, enough life has been lost by the disproportional response of Netanyahu to what, 2 years later, looks like a small incursion compared to… let’s do the math…

Ahem…

67,160 to 1200, just in terms of one side murdering the people of the other. AKA, casualties.

That calculates to: exactly 279:4.

Meaning that for every 4 Israelis Hamas killed two Octobers ago, 279 Palestinians have been murdered in retaliation.

It also highlights the illicit superiority fallacy of Benjamin Netanyahu’s ego as an Israelite. Even in hostage negotiations, hundreds of Palestinians PRISONERS are released for just a few Israeli HOSTAGES.

Yet what seems to be lost in terminology, is that a prisoner of war is also a HOSTAGE if they are bargaining chips. This was Hamas’ intention of capturing the original 250, for bargaining. Can you imagine how many Palestinian HOSTAGES Netanyahu has right now?

If your answer is at least 4, you may want to increase it to at least 279…

I leave you with a question to ponder, fellow human:

Being a member of one lineage does not make your life more valuable than another lineage.

So why is this lesson always learned on the other side of massacre and oppression?

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SOURCES:

Samy Magdy, et al. “Israel and Hamas Start Indirect Talks in Egypt on Eve of Gaza War Anniversary.” AP News, 6 Oct. 2025, apnews.com/article/israel-palestinians-hamas-war-news-10-06-2025-3c3e1d13e86fabeaaff7930a18c6590a