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T respite brought by the halt in hostilities in Gaza is immense. Across Israel, the release of the living hostages has sparked broad celebration. Across Palestinian territories, celebrations are taking place as as many as 2,000 Palestinian prisoners start to be released – even as anguish persists due to ambiguity about the identities of those released and their destinations. Throughout Gaza's northern regions, people can now reenter sift through wreckage for the remains of an approximated 10,000 those who have disappeared.

Peace Breakthrough Against Prior Uncertainty

Just three weeks ago, the chance of a ceasefire seemed unlikely. But 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 attended a prestigious peace summit of in excess of 20 world leaders, among them Sir Keir Starmer. The peace initiative launched at that summit is set to advance at a conference 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.

Palestinian Statehood Hopes Tempered by Previous Experiences

Aspirations that the deal represents the initial move toward Palestinian statehood are understandable – but, considering historical precedent, slightly idealistic. It lacks a transparent trajectory to self-rule for Palestinians and endangers dividing, for the foreseeable future, Gaza from the West Bank. Furthermore the total ruin this war has produced. The omission of any schedule for Palestinian autonomy in the presidential proposal gives the lie to self-aggrandizing allusions, in his Knesset speech, to the “epochal beginning” of a “age of abundance”.

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

In a time of relief – with the liberation of detainees, halt in fighting and restart of aid – he opted to reframe it as a morality play in which he exclusively reclaimed Israel’s honor after alleged disloyalty by past US commanders-in-chief Obama and Biden. Notwithstanding the Biden administration twelve months prior having tried a comparable agreement: a cessation of hostilities tied to aid delivery and ultimate political talks.

Genuine Autonomy Crucial for Sustainable Agreement

A initiative that refuses one side substantive control cannot produce sustainable agreement. The truce and aid trucks are to be welcomed. But this is not currently policy development. Without systems ensuring Palestinian involvement and command over their own establishments, any deal risks freezing subjugation under the language of peace.

Aid Necessities and Reconstruction Challenges

Gaza’s people crucially depend on relief assistance – and food and medicines must be the initial concern. But reconstruction should not be postponed. Amid 60 million tonnes of debris, Palestinians need support repairing homes, schools, medical centers, religious buildings and other institutions devastated by Israel’s military operation. For Gaza’s interim government to prosper, funding must flow quickly and protection voids be remedied.

Like a great deal of Mr Trump’s peace plan, allusions to an multinational security contingent and a suggested “diplomatic committee” are worryingly ambiguous.

Global Backing and Future Prospects

Strong global backing for the Palestinian Authority, enabling it to replace Hamas, is perhaps the most encouraging scenario. The immense hardship of the recent period means the humanitarian imperative for a resolution to the conflict is potentially more pressing than ever. But although the ceasefire, the return of the detainees and vow by Hamas to “remove weapons from” Gaza should be acknowledged as favorable developments, Donald Trump's history gives little reason to trust he will fulfill – or consider himself obligated to attempt. Immediate respite should not be interpreted as that the possibility of a Palestinian state has been moved nearer.