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The reprieve following the ceasefire in Gaza is immense. Within Israeli borders, the freeing of surviving detainees has led to widespread elation. Throughout Gaza and the West Bank, celebrations are also underway as approximately 2,000 Palestinian prisoners begin their release – even as anguish remains due to uncertainty about the identities of those released and their destinations. Throughout Gaza's northern regions, people can finally return to search the debris for the remnants of an estimated 10,000 unaccounted-for individuals.

Truce Development Despite Prior Uncertainty

Only three weeks ago, the probability of a ceasefire seemed unlikely. Yet it has been implemented, and on Monday Donald Trump journeyed from Jerusalem, where he was cheered in the Knesset, to Sharm el-Sheikh in Egypt. There, he attended a high-powered peace conference of in excess of 20 world leaders, among them Sir Keir Starmer. The plan for peace launched at that summit is set to advance at a assembly in the UK. The US president, working alongside international partners, managed to secure this deal take place – contrary to, not because of, Israel’s prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Aspirations for Sovereignty Moderated by Previous Experiences

Aspirations that the deal represents the initial move toward Palestinian statehood are reasonable – but, considering historical precedent, slightly idealistic. It lacks a transparent trajectory to sovereignty for Palestinians and endangers separating, for the foreseeable future, Gaza from the West Bank. Additionally the utter devastation this war has produced. The omission of any timeline for Palestinian self-determination in the US initiative gives the lie to boastful mentions, in his Knesset speech, to the “historic dawn” of a “era of prosperity”.

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

In a moment of relief – with the liberation of detainees, truce and resumption of aid – he opted to reframe it as a lesson in ethics in which he alone reclaimed Israel’s prestige after alleged treachery by former US presidents Obama and Biden. Notwithstanding the Biden administration previously having tried a similar deal: a truce tied to relief entry and ultimate negotiations.

Substantive Control Essential for Sustainable Agreement

A initiative that withholds one side meaningful agency is incapable of delivering sustainable agreement. The ceasefire and aid trucks are to be applauded. But this is still not diplomatic advancement. Without mechanisms guaranteeing Palestinian participation and authority over their own organizations, any deal threatens freezing domination under the discourse of peace.

Relief Imperatives and Recovery Hurdles

Gaza’s people urgently require emergency support – and nutrition and medication must be the first priority. But rebuilding should not be postponed. Among 60 million tonnes of wreckage, Palestinians need help reconstructing residences, schools, hospitals, places of worship and other establishments destroyed by Israel’s incursion. For Gaza’s provisional leadership to succeed, financial support must be disbursed rapidly and safety deficiencies be remedied.

Comparable with much of Donald Trump's peace plan, allusions to an multinational security contingent and a proposed “diplomatic committee” are alarmingly vague.

Global Backing and Potential Developments

Robust global backing for the Palestinian leadership, permitting it to replace Hamas, is perhaps the most hopeful scenario. The tremendous pain of the previous 24 months means the humanitarian imperative for a solution to the conflict is potentially more pressing than ever. But although the halt in fighting, the repatriation of the detainees and pledge by Hamas to “remove weapons from” Gaza should be accepted as constructive moves, Mr Trump’s track record offers minimal cause to trust he will fulfill – or feel bound to try. Temporary ease should not be interpreted as that the possibility of a Palestinian state has been brought closer.