In a decisive moment aimed at steering towards peace, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas is set to participate in an international summit in Egypt this Monday. Alongside prominent world leaders including Donald Trump, Abbas will seek to finalize a pivotal agreement intended to bring an end to the ongoing conflict in Gaza, as confirmed by his office.
Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, who is spearheading this significant gathering in Sharm el-Sheikh, issued the invitation to Abbas. The summit is expected to attract representatives from over 20 nations, with UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer also confirmed to be attending.
Now, here's where it gets contentious: Trump's proposal for resolving the Gaza conflict leaves the potential door open for the inclusion of Abbas’s Palestinian Authority (PA) in the peace process, conditional upon necessary reforms. However, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has dismissed any prospect of the PA's involvement. This raises an important question: Can a sustainable peace be achieved without cooperation from all key stakeholders?
The PA, which governs certain regions of the Israeli-occupied West Bank, operates under the leadership of Fatah, a political party that often finds itself at odds with Hamas. Furthermore, Abbas is also at the helm of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO), representing the Palestinian people on the global stage.
In a recent turn of events, Abbas, now 89, found himself prohibited from traveling to New York to address the UN General Assembly, as the U.S. State Department revoked the visas of him and 80 other Palestinian officials. Despite this setback, he conveyed his willingness via video to collaborate with global leaders on a peace initiative that includes a clear rejection of Hamas's role in future governance in Gaza, demanding that the organization disarm.
On Wednesday, the first phase of Trump's extensive 20-point peace outline was agreed upon by both Israel and Hamas, leading to a ceasefire that took effect on Friday. This initial phase is set to facilitate the anticipated exchange of Israeli hostages for Palestinian prisoners on Monday.
Following this exchange, negotiations are expected to commence regarding subsequent details encompassing Gaza's governance, the scale of Israeli troop withdrawal, and the disarming of Hamas. Notably, officials from both Israel and Hamas have confirmed their absence at the summit in Egypt.
The Egyptian presidency has expressed that the main objective of this international convening is to "bring an end to the war in the Gaza Strip, amplify efforts for peace and stability throughout the Middle East, and initiate a new era of regional security." The foreign ministry of Egypt also indicated that a formal document intended to conclude the Gaza conflict is anticipated to be signed during this gathering.
Other influential figures slated to attend include French President Emmanuel Macron, Jordan's King Abdullah II, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez, and Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan, along with UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres.
Adding to the stakes, former UK Prime Minister Sir Tony Blair is expected to play a critical role on the "Board of Peace" that will oversee Gaza's governance under Trump's peace initiative. On Sunday, Blair met with the PA's Vice President Hussein al-Sheikh, who asserted their readiness to collaborate with President Trump, Blair, and other partners to facilitate humanitarian aid entry and support the release of hostages and prisoners. He emphasized the vital importance of reversing actions that undermine the Palestinian Authority, including the restoration of withheld Palestinian revenues, to prevent disruptions to the two-state solution envisioned for an enduring peace in line with international norms.
The backdrop to this summit is stark, as Israel's military operations in Gaza were catalyzed by Hamas's attacks on southern Israel on October 7, 2023, resulting in around 1,200 fatalities and 251 individuals taken hostage. In contrast, the Hamas-affiliated health ministry reports that over 67,000 Palestinians have lost their lives in the ensuing conflict, including a heart-wrenching number of more than 18,000 children.
This situation begs the question: What is the cost of peace, and can any agreement truly bring lasting harmony between these parties? We invite you to share your thoughts and perspectives on this highly complex issue in the comments below.
