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T relief following the end of fighting in Gaza is immense. Within Israeli borders, the liberation of surviving detainees has sparked extensive joy. Throughout Gaza and the West Bank, jubilations have commenced as as many as 2,000 Palestinian inmates start to be released – even as distress persists due to uncertainty about who is being freed and their eventual placements. Across northern Gaza, civilians can now go back to search the debris for the bodies of an believed 10,000 those who have disappeared.

Truce Development Despite Earlier Odds

Just three weeks ago, the probability of a ceasefire seemed unlikely. However it has been implemented, and on Monday Donald Trump travelled from Jerusalem, where he was hailed in the Knesset, to Sharm el-Sheikh in Egypt. There, he attended a high-powered peace summit of in excess of 20 world leaders, featuring Sir Keir Starmer. The diplomatic roadmap initiated there is due to be continued at a meeting in the UK. The US president, cooperating with international partners, did make this deal happen – contrary to, not owing to, Israel’s prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Dreams of Independence Moderated by Previous Experiences

Expectations that the deal signifies the initial move toward Palestinian statehood are understandable – but, considering past occurrences, slightly idealistic. It lacks a transparent trajectory to independence for Palestinians and endangers separating, for the foreseeable future, Gaza from the West Bank. Furthermore the complete destruction this war has caused. The absence of any timeframe for Palestinian self-governance in the US initiative undermines vainglorious allusions, in his Knesset speech, to the “historic dawn” of a “golden age”.

Donald Trump was unable to refrain from polarising and making personal the deal in his speech.

In a moment of relief – with the liberation of detainees, halt in fighting and restart of aid – he chose to recast it as a lesson in ethics in which he alone restored Israel’s dignity after alleged betrayal by previous American leaders Obama and Biden. Notwithstanding the Biden administration twelve months prior having undertaken a similar deal: a cessation of hostilities tied to humanitarian access and ultimate negotiations.

Meaningful Agency Essential for Authentic Resolution

A proposal that refuses one side genuine autonomy cannot yield authentic resolution. The halt in hostilities 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 subjugation under the discourse of peace.

Aid Necessities and Rebuilding Obstacles

Gaza’s people desperately need relief assistance – and nutrition and medication must be the initial concern. But restoration should not be postponed. Among 60 million tonnes of debris, Palestinians need support reconstructing residences, learning institutions, hospitals, religious buildings and other organizations destroyed by Israel’s military operation. For Gaza’s interim government to thrive, financial support must flow quickly and protection voids be remedied.

Similar to a large portion of the president's diplomatic proposal, references to an international stabilisation force and a proposed “board of peace” are disturbingly unclear.

International Support and Prospective Outcomes

Strong worldwide endorsement for the Palestinian leadership, permitting it to replace Hamas, is perhaps the most encouraging possibility. The tremendous pain of the past two years means the humanitarian imperative for a resolution to the conflict is arguably more pressing than ever. But even as the truce, the return of the captives and vow by Hamas to “demilitarise” Gaza should be acknowledged as positive steps, Donald Trump's record offers minimal cause to believe he will deliver – or consider himself obligated to try. Temporary ease should not be interpreted as that the prospect of a Palestinian state has been brought closer.