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The relief brought by the halt in hostilities in Gaza is immense. Within Israeli borders, the release of surviving detainees has resulted in broad celebration. Across Palestinian territories, festivities have commenced as up to 2,000 Palestinian inmates are being freed – although concern remains due to ambiguity about which prisoners are returning and where they will be sent. Throughout Gaza's northern regions, residents can at last reenter sift through wreckage for the remnants of an estimated 10,000 unaccounted-for individuals.

Truce Development Despite Earlier Odds

Only three weeks ago, the probability of a ceasefire appeared remote. Yet it has taken effect, and on Monday Donald Trump travelled from Jerusalem, where he was applauded in the Knesset, to Sharm el-Sheikh in Egypt. There, he joined a high-level peace conference of in excess of 20 world leaders, featuring Sir Keir Starmer. The diplomatic roadmap begun there is set to advance at a meeting in the UK. The US president, acting with international partners, successfully brokered this deal take place – contrary to, not because of, Israel’s prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Palestinian Statehood Hopes Qualified by Previous Experiences

Expectations that the deal marks the opening phase toward Palestinian statehood are comprehensible – but, considering previous instances, somewhat optimistic. It lacks a transparent trajectory to self-rule for Palestinians and endangers splitting, for the immediate period, Gaza from the West Bank. Furthermore the complete destruction this war has caused. The lack of any timeline for Palestinian self-governance in Mr Trump’s plan undermines self-aggrandizing allusions, in his Knesset speech, to the “epochal beginning” of a “golden age”.

The American leader was unable to refrain from sowing division and making personal the deal in his speech.

In a moment of ease – with the hostage release, truce and restart of aid – he decided to reinterpret it as a morality play in which he exclusively reinstated Israel’s dignity after purported betrayal by previous American leaders Obama and Biden. This even as the Biden administration a year ago having undertaken a comparable agreement: a ceasefire tied to relief entry and eventual negotiations.

Meaningful Agency Essential for Legitimate Peace

A plan that denies one side genuine autonomy cannot produce sustainable agreement. The halt in hostilities and aid trucks are to be embraced. But this is not currently political progress. Without processes guaranteeing Palestinian participation and authority over their own institutions, any deal endangers perpetuating oppression under the language of peace.

Relief Imperatives and Reconstruction Challenges

Gaza’s people crucially depend on emergency support – and nutrition and medication must be the primary focus. But restoration should not be postponed. Among 60 million tonnes of debris, Palestinians need support restoring dwellings, schools, medical centers, places of worship and other institutions shattered by Israel’s incursion. For Gaza’s interim government to prosper, financial support must be disbursed rapidly and security gaps be addressed.

Similar to a large portion of the president's peace plan, allusions to an multinational security contingent and a recommended “board of peace” are disturbingly unclear.

International Support and Potential Developments

Robust global backing for the Palestinian Authority, enabling it to take over from Hamas, is likely the most hopeful 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 although the truce, the homecoming of the captives and pledge by Hamas to “remove weapons from” Gaza should be recognized as positive steps, Donald Trump's track record provides scant basis to have faith he will accomplish – or feel bound to attempt. Short-term relief does not mean that the likelihood of a Palestinian state has been moved nearer.