This article first appeared on World Beyond War 

The Nobel Committee has frequently given the peace prize to major war makers, and frequently to do-gooders whose work in a variety of fields has been unrelated to abolishing war. It has also often given the prize to opponents and victims of Western empire. But it has never given the prize to open advocates of war and fascistic government. Trump was never going to be given the prize directly.

On Friday, October 10, 2025, the ceasefire took effect. After 735 days, tens of thousands of the two million displaced Palestinians began the painful walk home—some to rubble, others to houses barely standing. After two full years of relentless bombardment, more than ten percent of Gaza’s population was either killed or injured.

Over 81,000 were reported killed, including 67,000 confirmed dead and 14,000 missing and presumed dead. Among them: 20,000 children, 22,000 women, and 22,000 fathers. At least 1,000 infants under one year old perished—one Palestinian child every hour for two years.

The medical sector was systematically targeted: 1,670 medics and 140 civil defense workers killed, 125 health facilities destroyed, and 34 hospitals reduced to ruins. Gaza’s health system, once fragile, was deliberately annihilated.

A Central Ohio Chapter of Veterans For Peace (VFP) has been operating in the Columbus and surrounding areas for over a year. We have 15 core members, all of whom are experienced activists.

It is Chapter 183. Up until it was formed, Columbus was one of the largest cities in the United States that was not represented by a local chapter. Ohio was the most populous state without a chapter. There are over one hundred chapters throughout the U.S. and several international chapters. The national organization has had activists on the flotillas that have tried to break the Gaza blockade. VFP members have been arrested numerous times at demonstrations for standing up for freedom, veteran's rights, and the civil and humanitarian rights of people throughout the world while promoting peace and opposing unnecessary militarism, intervention, and war.

‘Victory has a thousand fathers. Defeat is an orphan’

Attributed to Count Ciano

How very true. Thunderous self-congratulations echo over the temporary ceasefire in Gaza that many hope will end two years of massacre, kidnappings and war crimes in this open-air prison camp.

President Donald Trump, hot in pursuit of the Nobel Peace prize, claims authorship of the just concluded ceasefire and prisoner release. His American supporters and legions of sycophants are heaping praise and accolades on him. Trump says he may shortly fly to the Mideast to ink an agreement.

I call this political kabuki. Like the so-called Abraham accords in Trump’s first term, the Gaza agreement is a sweetheart deal between US allies and satraps. Its primary object is to deflect the worldwide outcry against the genocide in Gaza fueled by US money, arms and diplomatic cover.