In a region long shaped by rivalry, ideology, and conflict, a new and unexpected voice of balance and diplomacy is emerging: that of Azerbaijan. With the signing of a historic ceasefire between Israel and Hamas in October 2025, the shifting architecture of peace in the Middle East has drawn in a mediator whose credibility is built not on size or power, but on experience, consistency, and wisdom. At the heart of this development stands President Ilham Aliyev, whose deft diplomatic manoeuvring and decades-long peacebuilding record in the South Caucasus have positioned Azerbaijan as a respected and trusted actor in one of the world’s most volatile arenas.

Between October 8 and 10, 2025, Israel and Hamas reached an agreement on the first phase of a peace plan proposed by US President Donald Trump. The negotiations, held in Egypt’s Sharm el-Sheikh and mediated by Qatar, Egypt, and Türkiye, resulted in a fragile but hopeful ceasefire. Humanitarian aid began flowing into Gaza for the first time in months, where prisoner exchanges were also agreed, and a multinational peace monitoring force, led by the United States and including contingents from Türkiye, Egypt, Qatar, and the UAE, was established to oversee compliance.

But beyond the visible headlines of hostages and withdrawals, the diplomatic choreography behind this achievement reflects a deeper truth: the world’s peace architecture is broadening, and new mediators are stepping forward. Among them, Azerbaijan is emerging not as a bystander, but as a bridge-builder, a state whose diplomacy is rooted in realism, trust, and an unshakeable belief in dialogue.

Besides, it was an experience, an experience that had a long journey from conflict resolution to peace diplomacy. Sharm el-Sheikh witnessed lessons from the South Caucasus that could end decades-long conflict.

Few leaders in the post-Soviet world have confronted the challenges of conflict management and reconciliation as directly and as consistently as President Ilham Aliyev. When he assumed office in 2003, Azerbaijan was a nation burdened by occupation, displacement, and trauma from decades of war. Two........

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