On Friday, October 3rd, Pakistani Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar said that the 20 points President Trump outlined in his plan to end the war in Gaza do not align with an initial draft that Pakistan wrote with seven other Muslim countries: Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Egypt, Jordan, Turkey, and Indonesia. According to Dar, the Muslim nations proposed a solution that included a full withdrawal of Israeli forces and the recognition of a Palestinian state, an issue that has recently garnered much attention after several Western states, like France, formally announced their recognition of Palestine. However, President Trump’s plan instead implements a partial, staged Israeli withdrawal. Trump also seems to have no plans to recognize Palestine after criticizing other U.N. states for their decisions to declare recognition.

Regardless of how much the ceasefire plan, which Qatar, Turkey, and Egypt mediated, diverges from the initial draft by Pakistan and its allies, public reaction has been positive: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas, and Hamas have all commended Trump’s efforts, characterizing the deal as a great success. Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif also praised the plan in a social media post, although Dar claims this was a broader response to Trump’s social media post. The widespread positive reception to the ceasefire indicates a significant break in the violence that appeals to nearly all parties involved, and as a result, the fact that Trump’s proposal deviates from the draft proposed by Pakistan and its coauthors seems moot.

Although the ceasefire began on October 10th, as Israel and Hamas agreed to in the first phase of Trump’s plan, several critical issues remain to be solved. One of these looming questions is whether Hamas will willingly disarm. Gaza’s demilitarization is one of the sticking points in Trump’s proposal, as Hamas has repeatedly rejected the idea of disarmament. “The proposed weapons handover is out of the question and not negotiable,” an official stated to the AFP news agency. If this plan is to foster lasting peace within the region, there must be a radical break to force changes on either side. One of these possibilities is Palestinian statehood, which Trump could use as a negotiating tool for Hamas’ disarmament. Trump has stated that “the rewards would be too great for Hamas terrorists” if Palestine became a recognized state, but if he were able to negotiate a potential deal that recognizes Palestine while disarming Hamas, it would mitigate those concerns. Using the proposed International Stabilisation Force to ensure Gaza transitions to a peaceful government could also allay Israeli concerns of a Palestinian state being a security threat.

Although the futures of Israel and Palestine remain in flux, this recent ceasefire shines a glimmer of hope upon the Holy Land. Already, the U.N. has reported that aid to Gaza has increased, hostages are being prepared for release, and Israeli troops have withdrawn. After years of a brutal war, a moment of peace is critical for all sides, especially the Gazan citizens who have borne most of the consequences. Ineffective aid deliveries have plagued Gaza due to Israeli restrictions and dangerous conditions, so an influx of aid will prove essential to civilians’ well-being. The international effort in Gaza may foster peace within the region as players like the United States, Egypt, and Qatar have the chance to implement a long-term solution for Israel and Palestine. Several questions remain about how a potential solution may look, especially concerning Palestinian statehood and Hamas’ military status. However, although the tunnel to peace may be long for Israel and Palestine, there may be a light at the end.