Shorouk Express
A historic moment? On 8 October, Israel and Hamas agreed to a ceasefire, the first step in a US plan for peace in Gaza. The 20-point roadmap includes the withdrawal of Israeli troops from the Gaza Strip, access for humanitarian aid in the Palestinian enclave, and prisoner exchanges.
Donald Trump’s plan lays the groundwork for a resolution to the conflict – which, according to Palestinian health authorities, has claimed more than 67,000 lives in two years, an estimate corroborated by international organisations – some grey areas remain. Certain observers believe that the roadmap is too vague on issues such as Palestinian governance of the enclave, the future of the occupied territories in the West Bank and a possible Palestinian state, and the disarmament of Hamas.
The involvement of the European Union and its member states – which have welcomed Trump’s efforts to resolve the war – is not clearly defined at this stage. Some countries, such as France, have already made known their intention to participate in the peace process.
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