Peace in Palestine and Its Missing Components
After two years of mass killings perpetrated by Israel in one of the most brutal military campaigns in modern history, the ceasefire in Gaza agreed upon in October is undoubtedly a welcome step. However, even if this agreement holds, it is crucial to address the root causes of the issue in order to achieve a just and lasting peace. Otherwise, renewed bloodshed and suffering in the region are inevitable.
It is striking that the current ceasefire is a personal project of former U.S. President Donald Trump, rather than a continuation of decades of international efforts to resolve the Israeli-Palestinian issue. It fails to include necessary references to United Nations Security Council resolutions that indicate a two-state solution based on the pre-1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as the capital of the Palestinian state. Thus, presenting the current peace agreement as a “new beginning” threatens to create an illusion of a solution. While the new Security Council resolution (2803) validates Trump’s plan, its references to legitimate Palestinian expectations remain insufficient, unlike what is included in the Russian draft.
A particularly urgent danger lies in the normalization of illegal Israeli settlements on Palestinian land. According to a recent report by the International Crisis Group, the number of Israeli outposts is increasing and turning into permanent settlements. Similarly, the establishment of the “yellow line” in Gaza heightens the possibility of partition, as Israel permanently occupies over half of the enclave. The reasons to doubt Israel’s intention to withdraw from these territories are abundant.
We should not approach the matter naively: the ceasefire is merely a beginning. As UN Secretary-General António Guterres stated, the events in Palestine cannot be viewed in a vacuum, detached from their past and present context. Many European countries have recently taken the step of recognizing the State of Palestine, largely due to growing domestic pressures. Although this may be a superficial move, it indicates a significant shift in the global approach to the Palestinian issue. Israel remains isolated due to its extreme policies, while international sentiments favoring a just solution are clearer than ever.
It is true that the peace program proposed by Trump’s plan is new, but the ongoing problem and its main solutions have long been evident. The Israeli occupation and illegal settlements must end, and the Palestinian state must be realized with the necessary dignity.
For the ceasefire to lead to lasting peace, the United States must take responsibility for pushing Israel in the right direction. Resolving the core conflict in the Middle East would be a tremendous service to humanity. It would bolster the United States’ stature while ensuring the safety and prosperity of its closest allies in the region.
Israel’s concerns regarding its existence are also understandable: it is situated in the heart of the Arab Mashriq, among many countries that are hostile towards it. However, it should recognize what most Jewish intellectuals and elites around the world have understood for a long time: Israel needs to establish normal relations with the Palestinians and its other neighbors. If the alternative is to impose an apartheid state or strip Palestinians of their sovereignty, the conflict will be prolonged and exacerbated, as has been the case in the past.
As long as the invasion continues, resistance will also persist. Simply destroying Hamas will not guarantee Israel’s security. In the absence of a just peace, another group with similar ideologies will inevitably take its place. The only solution is to address the root causes of Palestinian extremism, which starts by allowing Palestinians to live with dignity on their land.
Peace in Palestine must have effects that extend beyond the immediate region. Most extremism in the Islamic world exploits claims related to the Palestinian issue. If the conflict is resolved, these claims will undoubtedly lose their weight.
On the other hand, Palestinians must focus on organizing their internal affairs, by promoting leaders who are fully committed to democracy and the rule of law. This type of leadership alone can genuinely represent the Palestinian people as an authentic international interlocutor. This has become even more critical since October 7, 2023. Palestinian leadership must exhibit credibility, legitimacy, and respect.
Given the destruction and hardships faced by Palestinians at all levels, achieving such political goals will not be easy. The international community must be supportive and understanding of initial efforts to establish acceptable leadership. Israel too must support these efforts if it is willing to weaken Hamas’s role and achieve meaningful regional normalization.
In 2006, as Turkey’s Foreign Minister at the time, I was the first to welcome and meet with Hamas leaders in Ankara after their electoral victory. I strongly advised them to adopt new policies and to act in a manner befitting a democratically elected political force: they needed to pursue diplomacy, embrace more moderate tactics in their struggle, and become recognized international representatives of the Palestinians. Initially, they showed signs of willingness to do so. I also informed my Israeli and American counterparts that the newly elected Palestinian leadership in Gaza should be given a chance. Instead, it was immediately marginalized and sanctioned.
Today, a similar opportunity presents itself. I am still convinced that a democratic Palestinian leadership that ensures good governance, extricates itself from corruption, and renounces violence is the only one capable of gaining full support from its people and acting as their legitimate representative on the international stage. I have spoken to prominent figures throughout the Middle East, and many consider the imprisoned Palestinian politician Marwan Barghouti to be a promising candidate for leadership. However, Israel must demonstrate its true willingness for peace by releasing him and other political prisoners.
The world is tired of watching violence and suffering in Palestine without being able to intervene. The ceasefire announced by Trump may be the first step toward peace, but only if it evolves into a comprehensive plan that acknowledges and values the decades-long Palestinian struggle. Otherwise, the suffering of Palestinians and the insecurity of Israelis will continue.
