ISRAEL-PALESTINE

More than a year since the start of the devastating war in Gaza, there are still deep-rooted obstacles to reaching a sustainable ceasefire. TSG has launched an initiative to find ways to support peace-building and humanitarian efforts and, beyond that, to find long-term solutions.
To this effect, TSG has initiated a dialogue involving relevant governments, the aim of which is to provide space for informal, off-the-record, constructive discussions on key issues, including interim initiatives to improve the lives of Palestinians in Gaza, the role of key Palestinian actors, including the Palestinian Authority, in governing Gaza and the West Bank, and tangible steps and a concrete timeline as building blocks for a Palestinian state.

“Participants agreed that enduring peace must rest on a clear path to a two-state solution and the provision of security to all”

From the dialogue thus far emerged a consensus that it is vital for key regional and international actors to plan for the post-war phase, with a particular focus on governance and security arrangements in both Gaza and the West Bank, in order to make real progress. The participants agreed that for this to lead to enduring peace and stability, it must rest on some unequivocal principles: the rebuilding of Gaza must be tied to a larger political framework, with a clear and viable path to a two-state solution; a joint form of governance between Gaza and the West Bank; and the provision of security within Gaza and confidence to Israel on its own security.

Similarly, TSG has begun to engage local actors. It plans to convene a Track II dialogue among Palestinians to ensure that the perspectives of Palestinian civil society and activists are reflected in any discussions on ways to address the humanitarian situation in Gaza and link them to long-term solutions.