Celebrate the ceasefire. But remember peace is more than the absence of war

The ceasefire between Israel and Hamas is to be celebrated, says George Pitcher. But true shalom demands justice too

It’s been a joy to watch those for whom Donald Trump can do no right – a sizeable proportion of the population – eat their hearts out as he wears the laurels for pushing through his peace deal in the Middle East. Through clenched teeth, we have to admit he’s done something good for once.

Yes, it’s ridiculous to suggest that peace is sustainable so long as Hamas (and many others throughout the Arab world) want Israel erased from the atlas. And it’s true that the deal with Gaza isn’t even done until the bodies of dead hostages are returned and Hamas is disarmed. A two-state solution isn’t going to descend like manna from heaven any time soon.

Against that backdrop, Trump’s claims for his plan are simply the boosterism for which he’s renowned: “This is not only the end of a war, this is the end of an age of terror and death and the beginning of the age of faith and hope, and of God.”