The first condition of the Gaza ceasefire went into effect on Monday with an exchange of hostages and prisoners between Hamas and Israel, marking the end of combat between the two, which had begun just over two years before, on 7 October 2023. The presence of the Kings of Bahrain and Jordan, of the Prime Ministers of the UK, Spain, Italy and Pakistan, the Chancellor of Germany, the Presidents of Indonesia, Azerbaijan and Armenia, added credence to the occasion, but mostly this happened because of the presence of US President Donald Trump. Mr Trump was the subject of fulsome praise from Mr Shehbaz Sharif, who spoke on the occasion, in which he expressed the country’s unshakeable support for the Palestinian people, as well as praise for the role Mr Trump had played.
However, the conflict has left behind many questions, which Mr Trump’s 21-point proposal does not answer fully. The foremost is how Gaza is to be reconstructed. To that end, the UK is hosting a three-day conference, which was scheduled to start on Monday, within hours or less of the signing of the ceasefire. The hosting by the UK probably reflected how ex-PM Tony Blair will be the head of the Gaza administration until the handover to the Palestinian Authority. The Palestinian Authority has apparently withdrawn its objections to his appointment, so the conference could go ahead, attended by representatives of the Palestinian Authority, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Germany and Italy, the World Bank, the European Development Bank and other development and financial institutions. It still remains to be determined which countries are contributing troops to the proposed International Stabilization Force which is supposed to take over from Israel.
The role Pakistan is supposed to play is not yet clear, though the meeting of Mr Sharif on the sidelines of the Summit with the Presidents of Azerbaijan and Armenia, which was trilateral, might be an indication of which way the wind may be blowing. However, before Pakistan commits anything, it would be appropriate to remember that Pakistan has had a firm policy of staying out of Arab lands. Only an invitation from a competent Palestinian authority should make it move, and as things stand, there does not seem to be one. Pakistan must be careful not to let the deire to please Mr Trump lead it to get carried away, and making any commitments that are not in line with its national interests.
