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The respite following the ceasefire in Gaza is substantial. Across Israel, the freeing of captives held alive has sparked broad celebration. Across Palestinian territories, festivities are taking place as up to 2,000 Palestinian inmates start to be released – although concern persists due to uncertainty about the identities of those released and their destinations. Across northern Gaza, people can at last go back to dig through rubble for the bodies of an approximated 10,000 missing people.

Peace Breakthrough Contrary to Prior Uncertainty

Only three weeks ago, the chance of a ceasefire looked improbable. Yet it has been implemented, 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 more than 20 world leaders, featuring Sir Keir Starmer. The plan for peace initiated there is set to advance at a assembly in the UK. The US president, acting with international partners, successfully brokered this deal take place – despite, not due to, Israel’s prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Aspirations for Sovereignty Moderated by Past Precedents

Expectations that the deal represents the opening phase toward Palestinian statehood are comprehensible – but, considering past occurrences, somewhat optimistic. It lacks a transparent trajectory to sovereignty for Palestinians and endangers splitting, for the immediate period, Gaza from the West Bank. Furthermore the utter devastation this war leaves behind. The absence of any timeframe for Palestinian autonomy in the US initiative undermines vainglorious references, in his Knesset speech, to the “epochal beginning” of a “era of prosperity”.

The US president could not resist dividing and individualizing the deal in his speech.

In a moment of respite – with the hostage release, halt in fighting and restart of aid – he decided to reinterpret it as a lesson in ethics in which he alone reinstated Israel’s honor after alleged betrayal by previous American leaders Obama and Biden. This even as the Biden administration twelve months prior having tried a similar deal: a truce tied to relief entry and eventual negotiations.

Meaningful Agency Essential for Legitimate Peace

A initiative that denies one side genuine autonomy cannot yield authentic resolution. The ceasefire and aid trucks are to be applauded. But this is not yet policy development. Without mechanisms guaranteeing Palestinian participation and command over their own organizations, any deal risks perpetuating oppression under the language of peace.

Relief Imperatives and Rebuilding Obstacles

Gaza’s people urgently require humanitarian aid – and food and medicines must be the initial concern. But rebuilding should not be postponed. Among 60 million tonnes of wreckage, Palestinians need assistance repairing homes, educational facilities, healthcare facilities, places of worship and other institutions devastated by Israel’s military operation. For Gaza’s transitional administration to prosper, funding must flow quickly and safety deficiencies be filled.

Similar to a great deal of Mr Trump’s resolution initiative, mentions to an multinational security contingent and a suggested “peace council” are alarmingly vague.

Global Backing and Prospective Outcomes

Strong international support for the Palestinian Authority, allowing it to take over from Hamas, is probably the most hopeful possibility. The enormous suffering of the recent period means the ethical argument for a settlement to the conflict is possibly more urgent than ever. But while the truce, the return of the captives and vow by Hamas to “remove weapons from” Gaza should be acknowledged as positive steps, the president's history gives little reason to have faith he will accomplish – or consider himself obligated to attempt. Short-term relief does not mean that the likelihood of a Palestinian state has been brought closer.