World leaders press for ‘two-state solution’ to ensure peace following Gaza peace deal

As world leaders attend Egypt to sign the Gaza peace plan, many officials and authorities, including Canada, say that a two-state solution should be implemented next to ensure peace.

Meanwhile, U.S. President Trump’s 20-point peace plan does not refer specifically to a two-state solution.

Other world leaders are hoping the peace agreement in Gaza will inspire peace efforts to end the war in Ukraine.

“The war is over, OK, do you understand that?” said Trump.

While Trump’s peace plan is now in effect, the longstanding calls for a permanent two-state solution to end the Palestinian-Israeli conflict remain.

An Israeli lawmaker interrupted Trump’s speech to the Knesset on Monday, and was ejected for demanding the recognition of an independent Palestinian state.

“Recognize the simple truth: there are two peoples here, and no one is going anywhere,” said Ayman Odeh, a Knesset lawmaker.

A call that was echoed by Palestinian officials.

“Now it is time to end the cycle of violence by the implementation of the two-state solution,” said Adel Atiya, with the Palestinian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. “That is the only guarantee for the security of the Israelis and of the Palestinians.”

WATCH MORE: What to know about the first phase of the Israel-Hamas ceasefire deal

The call was also echoed by world leaders like Egypt’s president, the Chinese government, European officials and Prime Minister Mark Carney.

“We have to implement the two-state solution,” said José Manuel Albares, the Minister of Foreign Affairs for Spain, “and that will guarantee peace and security for the Israelis and the Palestinians and for all the peoples in the Middle East.”

Carney’s office released a statement while he attended the peace deal signing, which said in part, “[We] are intensifying coordination with international partners to build a just and lasting peace in the Middle East – a peace that can only be guaranteed through a two-state solution.”

Last month, Canada, the UK, Australia, France and Portugal recognized a Palestinian state for the first time, joining more than 150 other countries that already call Palestine a sovereign nation.

But Trump’s 20-point plan falls short of expressly calling for two independent nations living side-by-side, with point 19 saying, “While Gaza re-development advances and when the (Palestinian Authority) reform programme is faithfully carried out, the conditions may finally be in place for a credible pathway to Palestinian self-determination and statehood.”

While the establishment of a Palestinian state remains uncertain, the peace deal means the immediate needs of Gaza and its people can start to be addressed.

“If you can create an environment where there’s no conflict, you can expect the UN World Food Program, and others to begin to surge and flood the zone with humanitarian assistance,” said Aaron David Miller, a former Middle-East Negotiator.

Already, since the ceasefire took effect, hundreds of thousands of meals have been distributed to displaced families.

“We need to have some food, we need to have some water, we need to have some medical drugs,” said Jacob Granger, an MSF Emergency Coordinator for Doctors Without Borders in Gaza.

Further, if the peace deal can be achieved in Gaza, some world leaders, like NATO’s Secretary General Mark Rutte, are already expressing hope it may inspire a similar outcome in Ukraine.

“Let’s hope we can build on this momentum,” said Rutte.

A United Nations official says Israel has now cleared at least 190-million-kilos 190,000,000 kilograms of humanitarian aid including tents, food and medicine.

That UN official said aid teams are reaching Palestinians who have been cut off for months.

WATCH MORE: World leaders in Egypt sign Gaza peace deal as hostages, prisoners return home