The Historical Spark: Going Beyond October 7, 2023

“The first casualty when war comes is truth,” attributed to U.S. Senator Hiram Johnson in 1917—an everyday reminder that stories from the battlefield, especially in the Middle East, often linger long before men do. As the world cautiously welcomes the latest ceasefire in Gaza, it’s important to remember that neither history nor peace starts with a signature. Deeper wounds come from broken promises, malicious revenge, colonial borders, disputed beliefs, and empty pledges that shape both. While many talk about October 7, 2023, as the immediate cause of the current violence, history reveals a much deeper, more complex story. The roots of this conflict go back over a century to the 1917 Balfour Declaration. It was a colonial promise of a Jewish homeland in Palestine made without real input from the Arab population. Against the backdrop of World War I geopolitics, this declaration favored one community while ignoring the presence, rights, and hopes of the native Palestinian people.

Nearly three decades later, as the world was recovering from the horrors of the Holocaust, this imbalance was again exposed in a candid conversation between U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt and King Abdul Aziz of Saudi Arabia, FDR and Ibn Saud, as they were  popularly known, on board the USS Quincy, an American cruiser, in the Suez Canal in 1945. When FDR spoke of Western sympathy for the Jewish cause, the King reportedly replied that if the Jewish people needed a homeland, “let the land be taken from Germany — the nation that committed the crime against them — not from the innocent Arabs who had done them no harm.” It was a simple yet profound assertion of justice, one that questioned the moral logic of making Palestine pay the price for Europe’s sins.

The following decades saw increasing tensions, fueled by waves of migration, displacement, and sporadic violence. Viewing the current conflict as a single event misses the deep-rooted inequalities created by colonial powers and upheld by later government actors. In this context, October 7 is not just an isolated trigger but a sign of a century-long historical process that began with external imposition and ignored local agency.

Colonial Constructs and Artificial Borders

The Middle East, as it is inaccurately called, is a region that still exists today, but it is actually a result of colonial planning. The Sykes–Picot Agreement of 1916 divided the Ottoman Empire's Arab provinces into zones controlled by Britain and France, largely ignoring tribal groups, religious communities, and historical context. The drawing of borders, imposed from outside and often arbitrarily, led to fragmented political areas, complicating sovereignty, identity, and governance.

Within this colonial framework, the Balfour Declaration served as a diplomatic tool, promising a homeland to one group without considering those already living there. The seeds of long-term conflict were thus planted at the start of modern Palestine, with inequalities rooted not only in law but also in the social and cultural fabric of the land. These historical burdens continue to influence contemporary geopolitics, biased strategic decisions, and interpretations of international relations theories.

The Ceasefire: An Essential but Fragile Pause

In the midst of Israel’s illegitimate, provocative, and disproportionate military assault on the unarmed, humanitarian-aid-laden Sumud Flotilla last week, U.S. President Donald Trump helped broker a ceasefire in Gaza — hailed by many as a diplomatic breakthrough. The truce is expected to facilitate the entry of humanitarian assistance, prevent further bombings of hospitals and civilian shelters, and increase the likelihood of hostage releases. Yet, as Pascal Boniface, Director of the Paris-based think tank IRIS (Institut de Relations Internationales et Stratégiques), aptly observes, this ceasefire represents merely a first step. It neither confronts the structural injustices nor the historical roots of Palestinian dispossession that continue to fuel the cycle of violence.

While international media may give extensive coverage and a few selected groups celebrate the temporary halt of hostilities, strategic realities remain unstable, uncertain, complex, and ambiguous. The ambitions of major players, domestic political calculations, and regional rivalries continue to influence decision-making. A ceasefire, although necessary for immediate humanitarian relief, cannot replace long-term structural solutions based on justice, fairness, and respect for human dignity.

Lessons from History and Moral Guidance

Former POTUS Jimmy Carter, in “Palestine: Peace Not Apartheid,” emphasized that genuine security cannot be achieved without justice. Peace must involve recognizing legitimate claims, addressing past injustices, and creating frameworks for coexistence that respect everyone's dignity. Carter’s insights remain pertinent today, reminding analysts and observers that ceasefires alone cannot ensure peace; they are part of a broader, morally grounded strategy.

Religious Teachings Offer Enduring Guidance

The Quran teaches: “But if the enemy incline towards peace, then you too should incline towards it” (Surah Al-Anfal, 8:61). This verse emphasizes the value of peace during conflict and encourages a positive response to opportunities for reconciliation.

The Bible teaches: “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called the children of God” (Matthew 5:9). This underscores the universal principle that peace is both a moral imperative and a marker of ethical leadership. It's a reminder that the path to peace is not just about political negotiation, but about ethical clarity, sober sincerity, moral courage, and sustained engagement with human needs.

Contemporary Geopolitics: Ambition versus Accountability

Current developments should be viewed as ongoing rather than final. The ceasefire underscores the tension between personal ambition driven by self-interest and the pursuit of multi-faceted security through proxy tactics. The fruitless effort by Trump’s supporters to secure him a Nobel Peace Prize shows how peace initiatives are often aimed at serving Machiavellian political goals. Likewise, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s decisions frequently appear more motivated by domestic political survival than by a strategic vision for national or regional stability, let alone biblical inspiration.

Unpredictable leadership qualities complicate the sustainability of ceasefires. When personal or political gain outweighs collective security, temporary truces can become fleeting and superficial, offering humanitarian aid but failing to address deeper conflict causes. The key is to develop governance structures where responsibility, ethics, and long-term peace are prioritized over narrow self-interest.

Geography, Resources, and Strategic Realities

Just as historical maritime zones like the Bay of Bengal influenced trade, security, and cultural exchange, geography and resources also shape the Palestinian-Israeli situation. Gaza, a densely populated coastal enclave, has strategic importance well beyond its physical size. Control over ports, access to water, and resource management remain key to security, economic stability, and political power.

Unresolved territorial claims increase human suffering, while strategic planning often prioritizes short-term tactical gains over lasting solutions. The Balfour Declaration, Sykes–Picot borders, and subsequent treaties demonstrate how external actors imposed solutions without considering historical legacies, geography, or cultural continuity. Modern peace efforts must address these historically wronged realities to avoid repeating past mistakes.

Moving Beyond Temporary Truces

While the ceasefire is welcome, it is not enough for lasting stability. In my humble opinion, for it to be meaningful:

Acknowledge Historical Truths – Recognizing that the conflict started before 2023 is crucial for developing fair solutions. Colonial legacies, imposed borders, and historical displacement influence the present and must be considered in any peace talks.

Diplomacy must include justice – lasting peace depends on recognizing differing historical stories, fair access to resources, and systems that uphold human rights.

Ethics Should Guide Leadership – Political gain cannot replace moral responsibility; leaders must prioritize human life over expediency.

Regional and International Cooperation – Platforms such as the UN, Arab League, and multilateral negotiations can establish frameworks for equitable resource sharing, dispute resolution, and security guarantees.

Public Awareness and Education – Citizens, media, and civil society must engage with the historical, ethical, and strategic aspects of the conflict to build widespread support for lasting solutions.

Environmental and Humanitarian Issues

Peace and security are inseparable from ecological and humanitarian realities. Gaza’s humanitarian crisis, worsened by blockage and conflict, highlights environmental damage, resource shortages, and population displacement. Sustainable peace must include strategies for public health, food security, and environmental resilience. Ethical governance, therefore, requires attention not only to borders and sovereignty but also to the daily realities of millions of civilians whose lives are affected by conflict and scarcity.

Lessons for Global Conflict Resolution

The Middle Eastern conflict provides broader lessons for students of military history, comparative religion, and international relations. Conflicts often arise not from single triggers but from structural inequalities, historical injustices, and artificial constructs imposed by external powers. Ceasefires, while valuable, are only tactical tools. Lasting peace requires strategic foresight in terms of:

Recognition of historical grievances

Ethical, transparent leadership

Inclusive negotiation frameworks

Integration of humanitarian, ecological, and economic considerations

History, religion, and moral philosophy all converge on this principle: peace that ignores justice is temporary, fragile, and ultimately unstable.

Toward a Durable Peace

The recent ceasefire in Gaza offers a vital opportunity for reflection, dialogue, and adjustment. International mediators, regional leaders, and local stakeholders must work together on frameworks that recognize shared humanity and fair rights. Public awareness campaigns, educational programs, and a series of discussions are essential complements to political negotiations.

History demonstrates that peace is achieved through patience and perseverance, not through personal ambition or global spectacle. The Middle East continues to be, as it has long been, a proving ground for human ambition and foolishness. Turning short-term truces into lasting peace will require leadership to rise above, ongoing engagement, moral clarity, and the acknowledgment that human dignity and justice are the real pillars of peace and security.

Conclusion

The ceasefire is welcome and essential, but it is not enough. It offers relief but does not fix the deep-rooted inequalities that have driven conflict for over a hundred years. From the Balfour Declaration to the Sykes-Picot borders, history shows that externally imposed solutions without justice tend to lead to more violence. Religious and moral teachings—both Qur’anic and Biblical—highlight the moral duty to seek peace with fairness and kindness.

If durable peace is to be achieved, it will demand historical literacy, ethical leadership, regional cooperation, and inclusive diplomacy. The Middle East, with all its complexities, requires approaches that are principled, patient, and comprehensive. Only then can ceasefires evolve from fragile pauses into lasting foundations for justice, security, and coexistence. 

 

Writer: Commodore Syed Misbah Uddin Ahmad, (C), NUP, ndc, afwc, psc, BN (retd), Director General, Bangladesh Institute of Maritime Research and Development (BIMRAD). Email: misbah28686@gmail.com