Kuala Lampur, Oct. 14 -- When world leaders convened in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt, to sign the long-anticipated Gaza Peace Plan, the atmosphere was filled with cautious optimism.

The signing, framed as a new beginning, was in truth a modest step forward - a ceasefire born not of reconciliation, but of exhaustion. Yet, even in its imperfection, it offers lessons for regions like Asean, where the art of peacebuilding lies not in perfection but in persistence.

The Sharm Declaration, as it is called, established a phased ceasefire between warring parties, a mass exchange of hostages and prisoners, and a framework for humanitarian relief. It also launched an international monitoring mechanism involving Egypt, Qatar, Turkey, the United States, a...