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T relief brought by the ceasefire in Gaza is profound. Across Israel, the freeing of surviving detainees has led to extensive joy. In Gaza and the West Bank, festivities are also underway as up to 2,000 Palestinian detainees start to be released – though concern lingers due to doubt about which prisoners are returning and their destinations. Across northern Gaza, people can at last return to sift through wreckage for the remnants of an approximated 10,000 those who have disappeared.

Truce Development Contrary to Prior Uncertainty

Just three weeks ago, the probability of a ceasefire appeared remote. Yet it has been implemented, and on Monday Donald Trump departed Jerusalem, where he was applauded in the Knesset, to Sharm el-Sheikh in Egypt. There, he attended a prestigious peace summit of more than 20 world leaders, including Sir Keir Starmer. The plan for peace begun there is scheduled to proceed at a meeting in the UK. The US president, cooperating with international partners, managed to secure this deal take place – contrary to, not owing to, Israel’s prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Aspirations for Sovereignty Qualified by Past Precedents

Expectations that the deal signifies the first step toward Palestinian statehood are comprehensible – but, considering past occurrences, slightly idealistic. It provides no definite route to sovereignty for Palestinians and endangers splitting, for the near term, Gaza from the West Bank. Furthermore the total ruin this war has produced. The absence of any timeline for Palestinian self-governance in the US initiative contradicts self-aggrandizing allusions, in his Knesset speech, to the “monumental start” of a “golden age”.

The American leader could not help himself polarising and individualizing the deal in his speech.

In a time of ease – with the liberation of detainees, halt in fighting and restart of aid – he opted to reframe it as a lesson in ethics in which he exclusively restored Israel’s prestige after alleged betrayal by former US presidents Obama and Biden. Notwithstanding the Biden administration previously having tried a analogous arrangement: a truce connected with relief entry and ultimate negotiations.

Substantive Control Vital for Legitimate Peace

A plan that withholds one side meaningful agency is incapable of delivering legitimate peace. The ceasefire and relief shipments are to be embraced. But this is not yet political progress. Without mechanisms ensuring Palestinian engagement and command over their own institutions, any deal endangers perpetuating oppression under the language of peace.

Aid Necessities and Reconstruction Challenges

Gaza’s people desperately need emergency support – and food and medicines must be the primary focus. But reconstruction cannot wait. Amid 60 million tonnes of wreckage, Palestinians need support reconstructing residences, educational facilities, medical centers, mosques and other institutions shattered by Israel’s military operation. For Gaza’s transitional administration to thrive, monetary resources must flow quickly and protection voids be remedied.

Similar to much of the president's peace plan, mentions to an global peacekeeping unit and a proposed “board of peace” are alarmingly vague.

Global Backing and Prospective Outcomes

Strong global backing for the Palestinian leadership, enabling it to take over from Hamas, is probably the most promising possibility. The enormous suffering of the recent period means the humanitarian imperative for a settlement to the conflict is arguably more urgent than ever. But although the truce, the homecoming of the hostages and commitment by Hamas to “disarm” Gaza should be accepted as positive steps, Mr Trump’s record gives little reason to have faith he will accomplish – or deem himself compelled to endeavor. Immediate respite should not be interpreted as that the prospect of a Palestinian state has been advanced.