In a significant development following the recent Gaza ceasefire agreement, Palestinian President Mahmud Abbas convened with Israeli peace activists in Ramallah on Thursday. The meeting, held at the presidential palace in the occupied West Bank, focused on fostering long-term peace between the two sides. Abbas expressed his approval of the ceasefire and the subsequent release of hostages, stating, “I welcome the agreement signed today, the end of the war, and the release of the hostages.” He also reiterated the Palestinian commitment to establishing a state encompassing Gaza, the West Bank, and East Jerusalem, despite past challenges, including former U.S. President Donald Trump’s controversial proposals. The gathering included prominent figures such as Arab-Israeli Knesset member Ayman Odeh and Palestinian Authority Vice-President Hussein al-Sheikh. Abbas engaged warmly with the audience, sharing light-hearted moments and jokes. However, the event was briefly interrupted by two power outages, as reported by an AFP journalist. Among the attendees was Iddo Ilam, an activist who declined to serve in the Israeli army, receiving a thumbs-up from Abbas. Rula Daoud, co-director of the Israeli grassroots movement Standing Together, emphasized the need for a peaceful future between Jews and Palestinians. Notably, the specifics of the ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas, which is expected to facilitate the release of remaining hostages and nearly 2,000 Palestinian prisoners, were not discussed. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has dismissed the possibility of the Palestinian Authority governing post-war Gaza, despite al-Sheikh’s assertion on X that the PA is fully prepared to oversee Gaza’s reconstruction.