President Trump officially signed a peace agreement aimed at bringing an end to the conflict between Israel and Hamas in Gaza on Monday. This event capped off a brief but significant tour of the Middle East, which Trump described as a “historic dawn for a new Middle East.”
The trip appeared to be a moment of celebration for Trump, receiving warm reactions from Israeli leaders in Congress and commendations during his time in Egypt. Families of Israeli hostages released by Hamas after two years of being held also found a reason to rejoice.
On the other side, many Palestinians celebrated as well, with Israel releasing 250 Palestinian prisoners amid the backdrop of the October 7, 2023, Hamas attack that saw 1,700 Gazans arrested.
Here are five important takeaways from Trump’s visit.
Trump’s Optimism About the End of War
Although Trump’s 20-point peace strategy for Gaza is still in its infancy, he has voiced strong belief since his departure for the Middle East that the deal would be successful. “The war is over,” he asserted to reporters on his flight to Israel and reiterated this sentiment upon arrival and during a speech in Egypt.
“It took us 3,000 years to get here. Can you believe it?” he remarked at an event in Egypt where he signed the peace deal, expressing confidence that the agreement would endure.
However, experts and even some of Trump’s supporters are more cautious. They highlight that obstacles persist, particularly regarding whether Hamas will disarm as required by the agreement.
“A word of caution,” Sen. Lindsey Graham noted on social media after Trump’s address. He emphasized that Hamas continues to confront opposing groups and could eliminate any dissent if regional stability forces aren’t deployed rapidly. This was underscored by violence in Gaza on that very day, which resulted in numerous fatalities.
“An exceptional regional effort is needed to disarm Hamas and ensure it plays no role in Gaza’s future.”
Efforts to Recover Hostages
On Monday, the last 20 living hostages were returned to Israel, while searches continued for the remains of 28 others believed to be held by Hamas. The Israeli military confirmed that coffins containing four hostages’ bodies were brought back, leaving 24 still to be accounted for. The International Committee of the Red Cross is facilitating this process.
Reports indicate that Hamas requires additional time to retrieve and hand over the bodies, hinting that some might be in areas occupied by Israeli forces.
The Hostage and Missing Families Forum, which advocates for families of hostages, recently called for ceasing the ceasefire due to Hamas’s failure to return all bodies as previously agreed.
This group, which typically supports ceasefires and agreements to release hostages, has criticized Netanyahu for impeding negotiations.
“Hamas’s breach of the agreement must be addressed by both governments and mediators,” they stated.
“The agreement needs to be honored by both parties. If Hamas isn’t fulfilling its obligations, Israel shouldn’t be held to the terms either.”
Netanyahu’s Absence and Abbas’s Presence
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu opted to skip a peace summit in Egypt, citing the Jewish holiday of Sukkot as the reason for his absence. His decision to stay away raises questions about the complexities ahead in forging a sustainable peace agreement.
Meanwhile, Trump embraced Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas, who is 89 and leads the West Bank. This marked Trump’s second meeting with Abbas, where they exchanged smiles, handshakes, and even took some photos.
Trump mentioned the introduction of a restructured Palestinian Authority in the newly stabilized Gaza. Yet, Netanyahu has laid out strict conditions before permitting the PA back into Gaza, all while rejecting the notion of a Palestinian state—a key aspect of Trump’s plan.
The president also referenced the involvement of various Middle Eastern nations represented in Egypt, including Qatar, the UAE, Turkey, and Saudi Arabia, noting their essential roles in maintaining peace in the region.
Call for Expanded Abraham Accords
Trump highlighted the significance of the Abraham Accords during his visit, portraying it as a major success from his first term and looking for ways to build on the recently reached Gaza deal.
“We’re going to get a lot more nations to join the Abraham Accords,” Trump stated in Egypt. He spoke of the four key nations that had joined early on, expressing optimism about more nations considering joining.
Trump even seemed to enjoy articulating “Abraham,” similar to Netanyahu’s pronunciation, along with a light-hearted moment quoting his love for saying “Israel.”
These Accords, established in 2020, facilitated diplomatic relations between Israel and several Arab nations like Bahrain, the UAE, and Morocco, a move that priorly only Jordan and Egypt had taken.
Other Arab nations, notably Saudi Arabia, insist on the establishment of a Palestinian state before normalizing ties with Israel.
Nevertheless, Trump remained enthusiastic about diplomatic advancements, mentioning not just the potential extension of the Abraham Accords but also a considerable deal with Iran.
“With respect to Iran… we’re ever ready, and this could be the best choice we’ve made regarding them,” he shared with Congress.
The Future of Gaza Remains Unclear
While Monday’s events brought celebration over the hostages’ release and the peace agreement, numerous pressing concerns linger regarding Gaza’s future.
Over the past two years, tens of thousands of Palestinians have lost their lives in Israeli operations. The destruction of infrastructure in Gaza has been devastating, and monitoring organizations report a worsening humanitarian situation.
“The real test is what happens tomorrow—implementation,” remarked British Prime Minister Keir Starmer in a conversation with Sky News following the summit.
Starmer expressed willingness for the UK to help demilitarize Gaza but refrained from volunteering for what Trump has labeled a “peace commission,” meant to oversee Gaza’s governance under Hamas.
“There’s still conversation about the composition of this committee,” he noted.
Trump’s peace envoy, Steve Witkoff, indicated that a list of potential members exists, but nothing is finalized yet.
As the head of the Peace Council, Trump has included figures like former British Prime Minister Tony Blair, instrumental in formulating post-war plans for Gaza, including Trump’s peace proposal. However, Hamas has not yet accepted critical aspects of that plan, such as giving up power and disarming. Hamas spokesperson Bassem Naim has mentioned that Blair’s involvement is unwelcome due to his past during the US invasion of Iraq.
