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The relief resulting from the end of fighting in Gaza is substantial. Within Israeli borders, the liberation of surviving detainees has led to extensive joy. Across Palestinian territories, festivities are taking place as up to 2,000 Palestinian detainees start to be released – even as concern persists due to uncertainty about the identities of those released and where they will be sent. Throughout Gaza's northern regions, people can now reenter dig through rubble for the bodies of an approximated 10,000 unaccounted-for individuals.

Truce Development Despite Earlier Odds

As recently as three weeks ago, the likelihood of a ceasefire looked improbable. But it has been implemented, and on Monday Donald Trump travelled from Jerusalem, where he was cheered in the Knesset, to Sharm el-Sheikh in Egypt. There, he participated in a high-level peace conference of over 20 world leaders, among them Sir Keir Starmer. The plan for peace initiated there is due to be continued at a meeting in the UK. The US president, working alongside international partners, successfully brokered this deal happen – contrary to, not because of, Israel’s prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Dreams of Independence Moderated by Past Precedents

Expectations that the deal represents the first step toward Palestinian statehood are comprehensible – but, considering past occurrences, slightly idealistic. It provides no definite route 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 undermines vainglorious references, in his Knesset speech, to the “monumental start” of a “age of abundance”.

The US president could not help himself polarising and individualizing the deal in his speech.

In a period of ease – with the hostage release, halt in fighting and resumption of aid – he opted to reframe it as a ethical drama in which he alone restored Israel’s honor after supposed treachery by previous American leaders Obama and Biden. Notwithstanding the Biden administration twelve months prior having tried a similar deal: a truce linked to humanitarian access and future negotiations.

Genuine Autonomy Vital for Authentic Resolution

A proposal that withholds one side genuine autonomy cannot produce sustainable agreement. The ceasefire and relief shipments are to be welcomed. But this is still not political progress. Without systems securing Palestinian engagement and authority over their own organizations, any deal threatens perpetuating subjugation under the discourse of peace.

Humanitarian Priorities and Reconstruction Challenges

Gaza’s people urgently require emergency support – and sustenance and pharmaceuticals must be the primary focus. But rebuilding cannot wait. Within 60 million tonnes of rubble, Palestinians need support reconstructing residences, schools, healthcare facilities, religious buildings and other organizations devastated by Israel’s invasion. For Gaza’s provisional leadership to succeed, financial support must arrive promptly and safety deficiencies be addressed.

Similar to a great deal of the president's diplomatic proposal, allusions to an multinational security contingent and a suggested “diplomatic committee” are alarmingly vague.

International Support and Future Prospects

Substantial worldwide endorsement for the Palestinian leadership, enabling it to take over from Hamas, is perhaps the most promising scenario. The tremendous pain of the past two years means the humanitarian imperative for a solution to the conflict is arguably more critical than ever. But even as the ceasefire, the repatriation of the detainees and vow by Hamas to “disarm” Gaza should be acknowledged as favorable developments, Donald Trump's record gives little reason to trust he will deliver – or deem himself compelled to try. Short-term relief should not be interpreted as that the likelihood of a Palestinian state has been brought closer.