Gaza Peace Plan: A New Barrier to Palestinian Statehood?

As President Donald Trump unveiled his plan to end the Gaza conflict with a proposed pathway to a Palestinian state, Ashraf Samara, a resident of the Israeli-occupied West Bank, confronted the grim reality of increasing Israeli settlements encroaching on Palestinian land.

In the village of Beit Ur al-Fauqa, Israeli bulldozers, shielded by armed guards, pushed forward with construction projects that will isolate Palestinian communities. These new roads not only facilitate Jewish settlements but also severely restrict Palestinian mobility, creating significant barriers to accessing essential areas like towns, workplaces, and agricultural lands.

While major European nations, including Britain and France, officially recognized a Palestinian state, Israel rapidly expanded its settlements under Prime Minister Netanyahu. Critics, like Peace Now activist Hagit Ofran, argue that these developments consolidate Israeli control, complicating the viability of a future Palestinian state and potentially impacting the region's geopolitical landscape.

(With inputs from agencies.)