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T relief brought by the halt in hostilities in Gaza is immense. Across Israel, the release of the living hostages has resulted in broad celebration. Throughout Gaza and the West Bank, festivities are also underway as as many as 2,000 Palestinian detainees start to be released – though anguish persists due to ambiguity about who is being freed and their destinations. In northern Gaza, people can finally go back to search the debris for the remains of an believed 10,000 those who have disappeared.

Ceasefire Emergence Against Previous Doubts

As recently as three weeks ago, the likelihood of a ceasefire looked improbable. Yet it has come into force, and on Monday Donald Trump departed Jerusalem, where he was hailed in the Knesset, to Sharm el-Sheikh in Egypt. There, he attended a high-powered peace summit of over 20 world leaders, featuring Sir Keir Starmer. The plan for peace launched at that summit is scheduled to proceed at a meeting in the UK. The US president, cooperating with international partners, managed to secure this deal come to fruition – despite, not because of, Israel’s prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Aspirations for Sovereignty Tempered by Previous Experiences

Aspirations that the deal marks the opening phase toward Palestinian statehood are reasonable – but, given historical precedent, rather hopeful. It offers no clear path to sovereignty for Palestinians and risks separating, for the immediate period, Gaza from the West Bank. Additionally the total ruin this war has caused. The omission of any timeframe for Palestinian self-determination in the US initiative undermines vainglorious mentions, in his Knesset speech, to the “historic dawn” of a “era of prosperity”.

Donald Trump could not resist polarising and making personal the deal in his speech.

In a time of ease – with the liberation of detainees, ceasefire and restart of aid – he decided to reinterpret it as a ethical drama in which he exclusively restored Israel’s prestige after alleged treachery by past US commanders-in-chief Obama and Biden. Notwithstanding the Biden administration previously having tried a comparable agreement: a cessation of hostilities connected with aid delivery and ultimate negotiations.

Substantive Control Crucial for Authentic Resolution

A initiative that withholds one side genuine autonomy cannot yield sustainable agreement. The halt in hostilities and relief shipments are to be welcomed. But this is not yet diplomatic advancement. Without mechanisms guaranteeing Palestinian involvement and authority over their own organizations, any deal risks freezing subjugation under the rhetoric of peace.

Humanitarian Priorities and Reconstruction Challenges

Gaza’s people urgently require humanitarian aid – and nutrition and medication must be the initial concern. But reconstruction should not be postponed. Within 60 million tonnes of rubble, Palestinians need support reconstructing dwellings, learning institutions, healthcare facilities, places of worship and other establishments shattered by Israel’s incursion. For Gaza’s transitional administration to prosper, funding must arrive promptly and protection voids be remedied.

Comparable with a large portion of Donald Trump's resolution initiative, allusions to an international stabilisation force and a recommended “diplomatic committee” are alarmingly vague.

International Support and Potential Developments

Substantial international support for the Palestinian Authority, permitting it to succeed Hamas, is perhaps the most promising scenario. The immense hardship of the past two years means the humanitarian imperative for a settlement to the conflict is potentially more pressing than ever. But while the truce, the repatriation of the captives and vow by Hamas to “remove weapons from” Gaza should be acknowledged as constructive moves, Mr Trump’s record provides scant basis to have faith he will deliver – or consider himself obligated to try. Temporary ease does not mean that the prospect of a Palestinian state has been brought closer.