Gaza is threatened with permanent division as the Trump plan falters and political solutions remain unclear.

Arabian Sea Newspaper - Special

Arab Gulf - Follow-ups: Multiple sources have stated that the de facto division of the Gaza Strip is becoming increasingly likely, given the cessation of efforts to implement the next phase of the US peace plan led by President Donald Trump, despite the ceasefire having come into effect since October. According to six European officials who spoke to Reuters, the next phase of the plan has effectively stopped, and reconstruction is expected to be limited to areas controlled by Israel, which threatens a division that could last for years. The Israeli army currently controls about 53% of the territory of the Strip, including most of the agricultural areas, the city of Rafah, and parts of Gaza, while about two million Palestinians live in harsh humanitarian conditions within areas controlled by Hamas. The second phase of the Trump plan stipulates a gradual Israeli withdrawal to agreed-upon borders, the formation of a transitional authority, and the deployment of a multinational security force to take over security, with the disarmament of Hamas and the start of reconstruction, steps that have not yet been implemented. With the absence of a timetable and clear mechanisms for implementing the US peace plan for Gaza, fears are growing that what is known as the "Yellow Line" will turn into actual borders dividing the Strip, given Hamas's refusal to disarm, Israel's refusal to involve the Western-backed Palestinian Authority, and the ambiguity surrounding the supposed international force to manage the transitional phase. According to international reports and statements from 18 officials, including six Europeans and a former US official, the political stalemate threatens to turn the status quo into a permanent reality that effectively divides Gaza into two regions, one under Israeli control and the other under Hamas. Jordanian Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi said at the Manama Security Conference, "Everyone wants to end this conflict... The question is how do we achieve that?", pointing to the absence of a clear plan. With the continued international division and the decline of US momentum, the hope for a comprehensive settlement that rebuilds and unites Gaza seems to be fading further, amid a tragic humanitarian situation and widespread destruction left by the bombing.