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T respite resulting from the halt in hostilities in Gaza is profound. In Israel, the release of the living hostages has led to extensive joy. Throughout Gaza and the West Bank, celebrations are taking place as up to 2,000 Palestinian inmates are being freed – although concern persists due to doubt about which prisoners are returning and their eventual placements. In northern Gaza, people can now return to search the debris for the remnants of an believed 10,000 missing people.

Ceasefire Emergence Against Previous Doubts

Just three weeks ago, the probability of a ceasefire looked improbable. But it has come into force, and on Monday Donald Trump travelled from Jerusalem, where he was cheered in the Knesset, to Sharm el-Sheikh in Egypt. There, he participated in a high-level peace conference of over 20 world leaders, featuring Sir Keir Starmer. The peace initiative initiated there is scheduled to proceed at a conference in the UK. The US president, acting with international partners, did make this deal come to fruition – despite, not because of, Israel’s prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Dreams of Independence Qualified by Previous Experiences

Expectations that the deal marks the first step toward Palestinian statehood are understandable – but, given previous instances, slightly idealistic. It lacks a transparent trajectory to independence for Palestinians and risks separating, for the immediate period, Gaza from the West Bank. Then there is the utter devastation this war has caused. The lack of any schedule for Palestinian autonomy in the US initiative contradicts self-aggrandizing references, in his Knesset speech, to the “monumental start” of a “era of prosperity”.

The US president could not help himself polarising and individualizing the deal in his speech.

In a moment of ease – with the hostage release, truce and renewal of aid – he opted to reframe it as a ethical drama in which he alone reclaimed Israel’s dignity after alleged treachery by previous American leaders Obama and Biden. Notwithstanding the Biden administration a year ago having undertaken a analogous arrangement: a cessation of hostilities linked to humanitarian access and eventual negotiations.

Substantive Control Vital for Sustainable Agreement

A initiative that withholds one side substantive control cannot produce legitimate peace. The halt in hostilities and humanitarian convoys are to be welcomed. But this is still not policy development. Without processes securing Palestinian engagement and authority over their own institutions, any deal risks freezing subjugation under the rhetoric of peace.

Humanitarian Priorities and Recovery Hurdles

Gaza’s people desperately need humanitarian aid – and sustenance and pharmaceuticals must be the primary focus. But reconstruction must not be delayed. Among 60 million tonnes of debris, Palestinians need assistance reconstructing homes, educational facilities, hospitals, religious buildings and other organizations shattered by Israel’s military operation. For Gaza’s provisional leadership to succeed, financial support must arrive promptly and security gaps be remedied.

Similar to a great deal of Mr Trump’s resolution initiative, allusions to an multinational security contingent and a proposed “board of peace” are disturbingly unclear.

International Support and Potential Developments

Strong global backing for the Palestinian Authority, enabling it to take over from Hamas, is probably the most promising prospect. The enormous suffering of the recent period means the humanitarian imperative for a settlement to the conflict is potentially more pressing than ever. But while the truce, the homecoming of the captives and pledge by Hamas to “disarm” Gaza should be accepted as positive steps, Donald Trump's record offers minimal cause to have faith he will deliver – or deem himself compelled to endeavor. Temporary ease does not imply that the prospect of a Palestinian state has been moved nearer.