Malik M. Ashraf
The Peace Plan for a ceasefire in Gaza announced by President Trump — which also delineates the process for an eventual Palestinian state — after taking the leaders of Muslim countries into confidence and obtaining their endorsement, is the best possible recipe under the circumstances to move forward and end the permeating genocide of the Palestinian people.
It surely represents a climb-down both by the US and Israel from their rigid stance on the Palestinian issue, which envisaged the displacement of Palestinians from Gaza and its takeover by the US for turning it into a ‘Riviera’ of the Middle East, dashing hopes for the creation of the Palestinian state in conformity with the two-state solution. This intent was declared by Trump in a proposal on February 4, 2025, during a ceasefire in the war between Israel and Hamas-led Palestinian militants.
This climb-down by Trump and Israel can be attributed to joint efforts of Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Turkey, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Iran, Malaysia, Indonesia, Pakistan and other Muslim countries; recognition of the Palestinian state by allies of the US; continued worldwide condemnation of the genocide in Gaza; incessant calls by the UN and world community for immediate ceasefire and stopping carnage of the inhabitants of Gaza. The changing security structure in the Middle East, in the backdrop of the Defence Pact between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia, might have also contributed to this change in their stance.
The fact that the Plan has not only been endorsed and supported by leaders of the entire Muslim world but also by the Palestinian Authority President, Mahmoud Abbas and certain leaders of Hamas, who are the major stakeholders in this case, does indicate a real breakthrough. If they see it as a way forward, then there remains no cause for anybody else to look askance at it or try to find faults with it. Acceptance and implementation of the Plan would immediately put an end to the continuing genocide of the people of Gaza, which has been the major concern and priority of the entire world.
But unfortunately, there is no dearth of elements within Pakistan who, compelled by their cynicism, are trying to discredit the Plan, playing down the role of Pakistan in this regard and even insinuating a change in its stance on the Palestinian issue notwithstanding the fact that Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif in his address to the UN General Assembly had unequivocally declared that the people of Palestine be given their right to self-determination and an independent Palestinian state should be established according to the 1967 borders with Al-Quds Al-Sharif as its capital. Pakistan has neither recognised Israel in the past, nor has it done so today, nor will it do so in the future until the Palestinian people get their legitimate rights.
The assertion by the propagandists that Pakistan is going to recognise Israel is also a preposterous proposition. Pakistan has neither recognised Israel in the past, nor has it done so today, nor will it do so in the future until the Palestinian people get their legitimate rights. The narrative is a fabrication and a conspiracy against national unity which is not only a failed attempt to distort Pakistan’s principled position but is also tantamount to harming the struggle of the Palestinian people.
It is an undeniable fact that the Plan is the first important milestone that has paved the way for the establishment of an independent Palestinian state. A clear roadmap for the establishment of a Palestinian state has now emerged, which, God willing, will lay a lasting foundation towards the establishment of a Palestinian state. The Prime Minister of Pakistan’s support for this peace Plan is actually an endorsement and continuation of Pakistan’s historical position, as this agreement provides a practical basis for the establishment of a Palestinian state and preventing the genocide of Muslims in Gaza.
The fact is that Pakistan’s support of the Plan has brought the Muslim world on the same page and achieved historic progress, which has at least created hope for a lasting peace in the Middle East. Pakistan has been able to convince the world that it stands with the people of Palestine and will always stand with them.
The critics have actually not read the entire Plan carefully. It envisages immediate ceasefire; release of hostages and prisoners; gradual withdrawal of Israeli forces; redevelopment of Gaza; administration of Gaza by a transitional and temporary government of Palestinian technocrats to be supervised by a new international body established by the US in consultation with Arab and European partners; no displacements from Gaza and those who left will be encouraged to return; security guarantee will be provided by regional partners to ensure that Hamas and other Gaza factions comply with their obligations and that Gaza ceases to pose a threat to Israel or its own people; the US will work with Arab and other partners to develop a temporary international stabilisation force that will immediately deploy in Gaza to oversee security; Israel will not annex or occupy Gaza.
It further stipulates that the US will establish a dialogue between Israel and the Palestinians to agree on a political horizon for peaceful coexistence. The accord offers a practical pathway to stop the war, exchange hostages and begin reconstruction of Gaza. Perhaps it would be pertinent to point out that the US President is now not only talking about Israeli forces leaving Gaza, but a few days earlier, he also told reporters in the Oval Office that he will not allow Israel to annex the West Bank.
It was actually in the wake of the failure of international institutions, the UN and powerful states to stop the snowballing atrocities and rising scale of devastation that it became imperative for the Muslim Ummah to forge a new diplomatic push for a concrete alternative. It was responsible and collective diplomacy and not a betrayal and abandonment of Palestinians, as alleged by the detractors of the Plan.
Can the critics and detractors of the accord honestly say what the alternatives would have been had the peace Plan not been pursued? What have they done to stop the genocide in Gaza? Have the UN, EU or major powers been able to stop the genocide in Gaza during the last two years? Has there ever been this kind of cross-Muslim-world consensus on a major issue before? Can they imagine who will benefit from the failure of the Plan? They surely have no plausible answer to these questions.
The failure of the Plan will close the diplomatic window, allowing Israel to proceed unchecked, and the Palestinians will pay the price. The situation demands a wise and pragmatic approach by all the stakeholders, particularly by the dissenting elements of Hamas, unruffled by the spanners being thrown into the works. They should not let this historic opportunity slip away.
The writer is a freelance columnist. He can be reached at ashpak10@gmail.com
