After Gaza’s war ends, Palestinian leader Jibril Rajoub reveals what real peace will require
Palestinian leader Jibril Rajoub
Image: Supplied
Palestinian leader Jibril Rajoub has called for an immediate halt to Israeli settlement expansion in the West Bank, describing it as crucial to securing a lasting peace agreement.
In an exclusive interview with IOL, the Fatah party official welcomed the end of the two-year genocide in Gaza, but cautioned that the ceasefire was “an instruction from Trump, not a real truce”.
“We must be clear about this. The peace deal is good for regional stability and global peace. But it is only the beginning. We need a comprehensive plan – from A to Z – including a Marshall Plan for reconstruction, a complete cessation of Israeli hostilities, an end to illegal settlements, and recognition of a sovereign Palestinian state. This is the only form of compensation that can end the cycle of violence and lead to sustainable peace,” said Rajoub.
The initial stage of the Gaza ceasefire deal includes the release of 47 Israeli living and dead hostages taken on October 7, 2023 in exchange for 250 prisoners and 1,700 Gazans held by Israel since the war broke out. One of the Palestinian prisoners, who was released in a prisoner-hostage swap and ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas, embraces a boy upon arrival by bus at Ramallah Cultural Centre in Ramallah in the occupied West Bank, on October 13, 2025, coming from Ofer military prison in the Israel-occupied Palestinian territor
Image: ZAIN JAAFAR / AFP
His remarks come as thousands of displaced Palestinians return to a landscape flattened by conflict – a scene of apocalyptic devastation. Aid convoys have begun rolling in, but they are met by families with little more than the clothes on their backs.
They return in droves, carrying wood for fires, salvaged bags, and whatever scraps remain. Women, children, and the elderly navigate the ruins – without shelter, infrastructure, or certainty – yet driven by a fierce attachment to their homeland. Their bodies may be broken, but their spirits remain unyielding.
“We will never leave our land. Even after Israel killed more than 67,000 of our people, they failed to erase Palestine from the map,” Rajoub said. “We urge the international community to continue pressuring for the formal recognition of a Palestinian state.”
Palestinian leader Jibril Rajoub has called for an immediate halt to Israeli settlement expansion in the West Bank, describing it as crucial to securing a lasting peace agreement.
Image: Supplied
The occupied West Bank currently hosts over 100 Israeli settlements – home to more than 500,000 settlers – a number that continues to grow. Rajoub said these settlements must be dismantled as part of any credible peace process.
His message was aimed squarely at world leaders gathered in Egypt for the Gaza Peace Summit, where post-war reconstruction efforts have begun. The United Nations estimates it could take 15 years to fully rebuild Gaza.
While the peace agreement has held so far – marked by prisoner swaps and celebrations – tensions persist. In the Israeli Knesset, two left-wing MPs, Ayman Odeh and Ofer Cassif of the Hadash alliance, were forcibly removed after interrupting US President Donald Trump’s address to demand recognition of Palestinian statehood.
Meanwhile in Gaza, the future of Hamas remains uncertain as a week-long amnesty for the group to disarm takes effect. Clashes have reportedly broken out between Hamas and rival factions, centred on aid control, security, and looting prevention amid the lawlessness.
In the days ahead, further skirmishes are expected as various groups compete for authority until a unified security plan is established.
For returning Palestinians, the ceasefire still feels surreal. Amid the rubble, young people celebrate, while women scramble to cook meals on open fires. Winter looms – and the road to recovery is long.
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