French philosopher Jean-Paul Sartre (1905-1980) famously said that “Life begins on the other side of despair.” That is, hope often emerges in moments of despair. It is always darkest before dawn, and faith that anything is possible drives us.
Is the dawn of the Middle East about to begin after a pitch-dark darkness that lasted two years, during which it witnessed one of the worst humanitarian catastrophes on Gaza’s land?
Without getting carried away or drowning in doom and gloom, we can say that the agreement to end the war in Gaza, though some believe that the ceasefire is fragile and that we face grave risks, is a glimmer that removes some of the occupation’s darkness.
The events of the past two years call for serious reflection and analysis that allows for drawing lessons from what happened that could benefit the whole region.
First and foremost, we must note the sublime scenes of Arab solidarity that reminded everyone that addressing existential questions must come from us, not others.
This time, the Arab states succeeded in their advocacy of their just cause. The efforts of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, which has spearheaded the campaign for recognition of the independent Palestinian state, as well as Egypt’s firm and decisive rejection of displacement, as well as the logic of brute force, without emotional, uncalculated reactions, were key to this success.
From Cairo to Riyadh, with Amman and most of the Arab capitals in between, the Arab world made the case for this cause after eight decades of injustice. The summit in Sharm El-Sheikh thus amounted to a starting point.
What happened in Sharm El-Sheikh does not mean that life has become bliss. There are real reasons to worry about subsequent phases of the agreement, but it is clear that position shifts have unfolded and must be considered with a measure of objective and sensible optimism.
These shifts begin with the actions of US President Donald Trump, who has played a major role in bringing about this moment.
Some believe that this is the pragmatic side of Trump, and that may be the case. Enough with the daily slaughter and stripping of the Gazans of their land. The world does not remember an American president who could push Israel into political paths against its will since President Dwight Eisenhower (1890-1969). Trump has managed to force a man who is not at all known for his pursuit of peace, Benjamin Netanyahu, to accept a deal that could open doors to peace if it receives additional American backing and international support.
One notable scene from the past few days was the return of Arab-Islamic solidarity. Indonesia and Pakistan played proactive and influential roles in the recent effort; the statements of Shehbaz Sharif, Prime Minister of Pakistan, suffice to demonstrate the reinvigoration of this solidarity.
As for the European states in attendance, one can say that the Mediterranean states have taken the initiative. In fact, even the statements of British Prime Minister Keir Starmer suggest that London is following suit, and that it may consider atoning for its original sin (that cursed promise) by playing a role in the restoration of security and order to Gaza. Indeed, the Strip’s social fabric seems to have been torn apart, and without guidance and stabilization, “the house divided against itself will fall.”
Another moment to consider and take in is Trump’s speech in the Israeli Knesset, where he seemed more royal than a king. Although this is broadly well established, the flip side of the coin can be seen in the results obtained by reliable US pollsters, notably the Pew Research Center. According to the latter’s recent surveys, support for Israel, especially among youths, seems to be declining at a rate that threatens the future of US-Israeli relations.
Once again, we ask: have global geopolitical changes compelled the White House to change its stance, leading the president who had denied Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas a visa to participate in the United Nations General Assembly, to take commemorative photos with Abbas in Sharm El-Sheikh?
Perhaps it is tied to the “monsters” Antonio Gramsci told us about, and to global developments. This is not the end of the story.
