Will Palestinians have a say in their future?
It is alarming that even after US President Donald Trump's appeal for a ceasefire in Gaza, Israeli airstrikes and artillery shelling have continued, wreaking havoc on residential areas and killing at least 20 individuals, including children. These ongoing attacks starkly highlight the futility of any peace plan drafted under such conditions. Trump's 20-point plan, endorsed by Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu, ostensibly aims to end hostilities, secure the release of hostages, facilitate a gradual Israeli withdrawal, etc. Hamas has indicated a willingness to release hostages but has called for negotiation over the plan's details and for a voice in Gaza's governance. But for any plan to proceed as decided or discussed, Israeli strikes must end first. Even then it may not be enough as the plan sidelines the Palestinian people entirely, offering a "solution" imposed from above without meaningful Palestinian representation.
Some Arab countries have expressed support for the plan, while others have urged more careful deliberation, recognising that any agreement lacking Palestinian input risks failure. Arab nations have a crucial role to play in amplifying Palestinian voices and ensuring that humanitarian relief and civilian safety remain central to ongoing negotiations. Without this intervention, the plan risks legitimising continued violence while ignoring the urgent needs of Gaza's population.
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The absence of any reference to the two-state solution further weakens the Trump peace plan. For decades, the two-state framework has been the basis for international diplomacy and conflict resolution in the region. Its exclusion, coupled with the ongoing attacks, underscores the imbalance of power in current negotiations and the ease with which Israel's ultra-rightist government can dictate terms. Any durable resolution must centre the Palestinians' rights and aspirations, rather than merely offering a temporary cessation of hostilities.
The persistent humanitarian crisis in Gaza grows more desperate by the day. Even as world leaders call for calm, civilians continue to bear the brunt of Israeli strikes, which have so far claimed more than 66,000 Palestinian lives. It therefore must be reiterated that the moral and political credibility of any peace plan depends on its ability to protect lives, restore basic services, and provide Palestinians with a genuine voice in shaping their future.
Stopping the killing is non-negotiable. Without an inclusive, enforceable, and humane framework, Trump's plan is likely to be yet another paper promise in a long history of failed initiatives. There is still time to rectify this. We urge the Trump administration, the wider international community, and Arab nations to act decisively to ensure that Gaza's people do not remain trapped in geopolitical manoeuvring, but rather receive the protection, justice, and hope that have eluded them for so long.
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