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T reprieve following the halt in hostilities in Gaza is immense. In Israel, the liberation of captives held alive has sparked broad celebration. Throughout Gaza and the West Bank, jubilations are taking place as as many as 2,000 Palestinian prisoners start to be released – though concern remains due to ambiguity about which prisoners are returning and their eventual placements. Across northern Gaza, people can finally go back to sift through wreckage for the bodies of an believed 10,000 missing people.

Peace Breakthrough Despite Earlier Odds

Only three weeks ago, the probability of a ceasefire appeared remote. Yet it has come into force, and on Monday Donald Trump departed Jerusalem, where he was applauded in the Knesset, to Sharm el-Sheikh in Egypt. There, he joined a prestigious diplomatic gathering of over 20 world leaders, featuring Sir Keir Starmer. The peace initiative initiated there is set to advance at a meeting in the UK. The US president, acting with international partners, managed to secure this deal happen – regardless of, not owing to, Israel’s prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Aspirations for Sovereignty Tempered by Previous Experiences

Aspirations that the deal represents the opening phase toward Palestinian statehood are reasonable – but, given historical precedent, somewhat optimistic. It offers no clear path to sovereignty for Palestinians and risks splitting, for the near term, Gaza from the West Bank. Additionally the total ruin this war leaves behind. The omission of any timeframe for Palestinian autonomy in the presidential proposal contradicts self-aggrandizing allusions, in his Knesset speech, to the “historic dawn” of a “era of prosperity”.

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

In a moment of relief – with the freeing of captives, truce and restart of aid – he decided to reinterpret it as a morality play in which he alone restored Israel’s honor after alleged betrayal by previous American leaders Obama and Biden. This even as the Biden administration a year ago having attempted a similar deal: a truce linked to relief entry and ultimate diplomatic discussions.

Genuine Autonomy Vital for Sustainable Agreement

A proposal that denies one side meaningful agency is incapable of delivering sustainable agreement. The ceasefire and humanitarian convoys are to be embraced. But this is not yet political progress. Without processes ensuring Palestinian participation and authority over their own organizations, any deal endangers freezing subjugation under the rhetoric of peace.

Relief Imperatives and Reconstruction Challenges

Gaza’s people crucially depend on relief assistance – and sustenance and pharmaceuticals must be the first priority. But reconstruction cannot wait. Within 60 million tonnes of debris, Palestinians need help restoring dwellings, educational facilities, medical centers, mosques and other organizations devastated by Israel’s military operation. For Gaza’s provisional leadership to succeed, funding must arrive promptly and safety deficiencies be addressed.

Similar to much of Donald Trump's resolution initiative, allusions to an multinational security contingent and a recommended “board of peace” are worryingly ambiguous.

International Support and Prospective Outcomes

Robust global backing for the Gaza's governing body, enabling it to succeed Hamas, is likely the most encouraging prospect. The immense hardship of the past two years means the humanitarian imperative for a settlement to the conflict is possibly more critical than ever. But even as the halt in fighting, the homecoming of the captives and commitment by Hamas to “disarm” Gaza should be accepted as positive steps, Donald Trump's record provides scant basis to believe he will fulfill – or consider himself obligated to try. Immediate respite does not imply that the possibility of a Palestinian state has been brought closer.