“Peace in the Middle East”? Gaza statement contains little concrete

Middle East conflict

“Peace in the Middle East”? Gaza statement contains little concrete

The heads of state of the mediating states have signed a document that is intended to consolidate the ceasefire between Israel and Hamas. How significant and resilient it really is remains questionable.

The document recently signed in Egypt to consolidate the ceasefire between Israel and the Islamist Palestinian organization Hamas contains “a whole series of rules and regulations” and is “very comprehensive” – ​​at least that is how US President Donald Trump describes it. His 20-point plan for “Peace in the Middle East” forms the basis of the declaration made on Monday by the mediating states USA, Qatar, Egypt and Turkey were ceremoniously signed in Sharm el Sheikh.

However, the “Trump Declaration for Lasting Peace and Prosperity” contains primarily non-binding declarations of intent, but no concrete steps or even direct consequences for violations of the spirit of the agreement. “The truly historic commitment of all parties to the Trump peace agreement” and its implementation – it has gaps that could still cause problems.

The document states, among other things: “Together we will implement this agreement in a way that ensures peace, security, stability and opportunity for all peoples of the region, including Palestinians and Israelis.” What exactly follows from this and which specific measures should be used to achieve this is not explained in detail.

In addition, the actual parties to the conflict – Israel and Hamas – neither signed the declaration nor took part in the signing ceremony. What exactly “tolerance, dignity and equal opportunities” mean for Israelis and Palestinians, when exactly “their basic human rights are protected, their security is guaranteed and their dignity is preserved” – both sides are likely to have different ideas about this.

The paper also contains a commitment to refrain from violence and to resolve conflicts “through diplomatic engagement and negotiations.” Extremism, radicalization in all its forms and racism should also be renounced. But strictly speaking, all of this only applies to the signatory states, not to Israel or Hamas, which have fought each other to the death for two years – and even before that. Skeptics could find their doubts about the viability of the ceasefire and the provisions of Trump’s peace plan confirmed.

The fact that the deeply hostile parties to the conflict agreed on a ceasefire after a long struggle and exchanged Hamas hostages for Palestinian prisoners is widely recognized as a milestone. The publicly celebrated Sharm el-Sheikh declaration remains to be seen how significant and resilient it is.