President Donald Trump has declared the Israel-Hamas war over following a historic ceasefire agreement, yet Middle East experts caution that the process towards lasting peace is only beginning.
On Monday, the remaining living Israeli hostages held in Gaza were released, coinciding with the liberation of over 1,900 Palestinian prisoners from Israeli detention. This significant development marks an initial step in Trump’s ambitious 20-point plan aimed at achieving peace in the region.
In a speech delivered to the Israeli parliament, Trump proclaimed, “After so many years of unceasing war and endless danger, today the skies are calm, the guns are silent, the sirens are still, and the sun rises on a Holy Land that is finally at peace.”
He emphasized that this moment signals not just the conclusion of a war, but the start of a new era characterized by faith, hope, and harmony. “This is the end of an age of terror and death and the beginning of a grand concord that will ensure lasting stability for Israel and the neighboring nations,” Trump added.
While Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has yet to officially state the war with Hamas is over, he expressed his commitment to peace during a speech before Trump’s address. Netanyahu stated, “Mr. President, today we welcome you here to thank you for your pivotal leadership in putting forward a proposal that got the backing of almost the entire world.”
He continued, highlighting the proposal’s ability to bring home all hostages and achieve Israel’s military objectives, opening the door to a historic peace expansion.
Trump’s visit to Israel was followed by his flight to Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt, for a peace summit co-chaired with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi. Here, an official signing ceremony for the ceasefire proposal took place.
Opening the summit, el-Sisi lauded Trump for his role in brokering a region-wide peace deal. He invited the President to join the ranks of leaders advocating for peace globally. “At this historic milestone, we witness the reaching of this Sharm el-Sheikh agreement on ending war in Gaza,” el-Sisi declared, describing it as a hopeful beginning of a new era for the Middle East.
Despite the momentous initial accomplishments in the peace process, experts profess that real challenges lie ahead. Michael Ratney, former U.S. ambassador to Saudi Arabia, expressed skepticism regarding the joy surrounding the hostage and prisoner releases. “I’d like to say it was peace. It’s not peace yet,” he cautioned.
Sources indicated that critical aspects of Trump’s 20-point plan remain unresolved, including the complete withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza, Hamas relinquishing control of the territory, disarming the militant organization, and establishing an international trusteeship for Gaza under U.S. and Arab supervision.
Former senior director for counterterrorism at the National Security Council, Javid Ali, noted significant issues to address when it comes to Hamas’s demilitarization. He remarked, “It’s still not clear who is going to actually oversee that demobilization or demilitarization, whether it’s the Israel Defense Forces or this international security body that’s still not in place.”
Flying to the Middle East, Trump mentioned to reporters that Hamas might be permitted to function as a Palestinian police force in Gaza temporarily. He attributed their willingness to cooperate to significant losses they have sustained, estimating around 60,000 deaths.
However, Ali stressed the complexity of the situation, noting the challenge of demobilizing Hamas and ensuring its members cannot engage in future terrorist activities. He drew parallels to historical instances where militant groups agreed to peace accords after prolonged conflicts, such as the Irish Republican Army and the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia.
Amid the celebration of peace talks, discontent surfaced when the Hostage Families Forum accused Hamas of violating the ceasefire agreement by releasing only four of the 28 hostages who died in captivity. They demanded immediate actions be taken by Israel’s government and mediators to address what they termed a “grave injustice.”
Tensions persisted on Tuesday, as both Hamas and the Israel Defense Forces exchanged accusations regarding violations of the ceasefire. The IDF alleged that Palestinian individuals crossed a designated boundary and approached their soldiers, resulting in the deaths of five Palestinians. In response, Hamas denied the accusations and contended that the IDF initiated the violence.
Andrew Miller, a senior fellow at the Center for American Progress, pointed out the international community’s dwindling support for Israel to resume military operations, particularly with all hostages now freed.
Mick Mulroy, an ABC News national security and defense analyst, underscored that the success of the ceasefire hinges on both sides honoring their commitments. “The only way this plan is going to work is if both sides adhere to what they agreed to do,” Mulroy stated, warning that any failures could jeopardize the broader peace effort.
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