CAN CEASEFIRE PAVE WAY FOR A PALESTINIAN STATE?

Arab, US, and regional coordination renew hopes for ending hostilities and rebuilding Gaza

- BY ALANOOD JASIM ALHOSANI | Special to Gulf News

The scene of thousands of displaced Palestinians in Gaza returning to the northern and central areas of the Strip following the partial withdrawal of the Israeli army, after the ceasefire agreement came into effect, has become a focal point of global attention.

The crisis has shifted from war and destruction to hopes that the agreement will contribute to a permanent end to the conflict, closing the chapter on hostilities and moving towards the establishment of a Palestinian state.

There is widespread hope that what is happening marks the beginning of a new phase in the Palestinian issue. The plan presented by US President Donald Trump, in coordination with mediators and Arab and Islamic powers, provides a strong foundation for peace in Gaza after hope seemed lost.

The journey to the current situation began during the New York meeting in mid-September 2025, with the main Arab and Islamic actors in the Gaza file, aimed at ending the war, followed by negotiations in Sharm Al Shaikh among the relevant parties and mediators from the region and the United States.

Arab and international efforts paved the way for an agreement on the first phase of the peace plan, with mediators and regional powers exerting pressure to reach the point of agreement. This regional and international coordination was crucial: the release of prisoners and detainees, the return of displaced persons from the southern Strip to Gaza City and northern Gaza, and the advancement of a future full of hope and peace for the residents of the Strip would not have been possible without these significant diplomatic efforts.