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The relief brought by the halt in hostilities in Gaza is substantial. Across Israel, the liberation of surviving detainees has resulted in broad celebration. Throughout Gaza and the West Bank, jubilations are taking place as as many as 2,000 Palestinian inmates are being freed – even as concern remains due to doubt about the identities of those released and their eventual placements. Throughout Gaza's northern regions, residents can at last return to dig through rubble for the remains of an approximated 10,000 unaccounted-for individuals.

Ceasefire Emergence Despite Earlier Odds

As recently as three weeks ago, the probability of a ceasefire looked improbable. Yet 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 high-powered peace summit of over 20 world leaders, including Sir Keir Starmer. The diplomatic roadmap initiated there is scheduled to proceed at a assembly in the UK. The US president, cooperating with international partners, did make this deal take place – regardless of, not owing to, Israel’s prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Dreams of Independence Qualified by Previous Experiences

Aspirations that the deal marks the first step toward Palestinian statehood are reasonable – but, given past occurrences, slightly idealistic. It lacks a transparent trajectory to self-rule for Palestinians and threatens separating, for the foreseeable future, Gaza from the West Bank. Then there is the utter devastation this war has caused. The omission of any schedule for Palestinian self-governance in Mr Trump’s plan gives the lie to self-aggrandizing allusions, in his Knesset speech, to the “historic dawn” of a “era of prosperity”.

The American leader could not help himself polarising and personalising the deal in his speech.

In a moment of respite – with the freeing of captives, ceasefire and resumption of aid – he decided to reinterpret it as a ethical drama in which he alone restored Israel’s dignity after alleged treachery by previous American leaders Obama and Biden. This even as the Biden administration a year ago having undertaken a analogous arrangement: a cessation of hostilities connected with humanitarian access and future diplomatic discussions.

Substantive Control Vital for Authentic Resolution

A proposal that withholds one side substantive control is incapable of delivering legitimate peace. The truce and relief shipments are to be embraced. But this is not currently policy development. Without mechanisms ensuring Palestinian participation and command over their own institutions, any deal risks cementing domination under the language of peace.

Aid Necessities and Rebuilding Obstacles

Gaza’s people urgently require humanitarian aid – and food and medicines must be the initial concern. But rebuilding must not be delayed. Amid 60 million tonnes of debris, Palestinians need assistance restoring homes, schools, hospitals, places of worship and other establishments destroyed by Israel’s military operation. For Gaza’s interim government to thrive, financial support must arrive promptly and safety deficiencies be addressed.

Similar to much of Donald Trump's resolution initiative, allusions to an international stabilisation force and a proposed “peace council” are alarmingly vague.

International Support and Prospective Outcomes

Substantial international support for the Gaza's governing body, enabling it to take over from Hamas, is probably the most encouraging possibility. The immense hardship of the recent period means the moral case for a solution to the conflict is arguably more urgent than ever. But although the truce, the return of the detainees and vow by Hamas to “demilitarise” Gaza should be acknowledged as constructive moves, Donald Trump's history provides scant basis to believe he will fulfill – or deem himself compelled to endeavor. Short-term relief does not imply that the possibility of a Palestinian state has been brought closer.