US President Donald Trump has announced through his characteristic social media post that his Gaza peace plan is working. His message coming just a day before the announcement of the Nobel Peace Prize winner can be a coincidence only for the naive.
Whatever be the masterstroke by the Trump-Netanyahu duo, there seems to be a sigh of relief in Gaza, Tel Aviv, and several other parts of the world. Many world leaders have welcomed the agreement between Israel and Hamas on the first phase of Trump’s Gaza peace plan. The Israeli government, on Friday, approved the peace deal, which would facilitate the release of all remaining Israeli hostages held by Hamas along with some Palestinian prisoners in Israel. It would also allow aid workers to re-enter Gaza.
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) has reportedly begun operational preparations ahead of the implementation of the first phase of the agreement, which will result in a ceasefire and withdrawal of the Israeli military to an agreed upon line.
With this, if the Israeli hostages return and some Palestinian prisoners are released in exchange, the ground situation in Gaza is likely to ease. Many internally displaced people are waiting to return. But it would not be an easy task to start a normal life as the infrastructure support in Gaza has been reduced to rubble. But at least two things seem to be going as per plan.
Trump and his deal
The support for the ceasefire and the return of the hostages will surely assuage the pain of the terror attack by Hamas that took place on 7 October 2023. Even as relatives and friends of those killed, injured or taken hostage were not ready to forgive Hamas, reality seems to be dawning on them. People have already begun to assemble at Tel Aviv’s Hostages Square, which bears a festive look.
Though polls to elect 120 members of the 26th Knesset are scheduled for October 2026, the Gaza deal is a litmus test for Benjamin Netanyahu. Now that the Israeli cabinet has approved the peace deal, it could lead to ultranationalist National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir and his party, Otzma Yehudit, quitting Netanyahu’s government. This could be followed by the resignation of Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich and the Religious Zionism party. Once that happens, Netanhahu’s minority government will have to call for immediate elections. According to reports, Netanyahu is confident that he can win the leadership of the Likud party in the primary elections, even if challenged by party colleagues.
An agreement on other parts of the Gaza peace deal could bolster Donald Trump in knocking down his competitors for the Nobel Peace Prize – an award he has coveted ever since his bête noire, Obama, received it. With the Nobel prize on his sleeves and no constitutional clearance for another term as president, what interest he would have in the success of the Gaza deal is anyone’s guess.
Not everyone seems to be happy with the Gaza peace deal. In Israel, Netanyahu’s coalition partners are not happy with the withdrawal of troops from the Gaza strip and further concessions to Hamas. Another coalition or a strong opposition could just go back on the Gaza deal and seek much stronger military action.
In spite of the Abraham Accords and other bilateral agreements with Arab countries and non-Arab trade blocs, many are sceptical about Israel’s long-term agenda for Palestine, a two-state solution for lasting peace. The current ceasefire phase is only the first step in the 20-point peace plan. There are 19 more hurdles that lie ahead. Besides, the first phase of the deal does not mention anything about disarming Hamas, which has refused to lay down its weapons until “a Palestinian state has been established”. Around the world, terrorist outfits are notoriously famous for regrouping and rearming after a truce or ceasefire. Hamas is no different.
Also read: Israeli society is in collective denial over what is happening in Gaza. Media isn’t helping
Lasting peace?
Governance of Gaza is another question seeking urgent attention. Hamas has usurped power and legitimacy from the Palestinian Authority (PA) and took control of the Gaza Strip from the PA’s Fatah-led forces in 2007. How can a deal with Hamas apply to the whole of what is claimed as Palestinian land? Also, the deal confers de jure powers of authority to Hamas over Gaza Strip, which will surely be a scene of conflict once again. Trump’s plan envisages no role for Hamas in the Gaza Strip and proposes it be temporarily governed by a “technocratic, apolitical Palestinian committee”, before being handed over to the Palestinian Authority, which may not materialise as Hamas wants some future role in Gaza’s governance.
Spain’s parliament has voted to approve, albeit with a slender margin and with the support of four MPs of the far-Left Podemos Party, a law for arms embargo on Israel banning all exports of defence equipment, products or technology to Israel and imports of such goods from Israel which the prime minister, Pedro Sánchez, announced with a view to end “the genocide in Gaza”.
Several of the Arab League countries were part of the “Boycott Israel Certification” scheme mooted around 1993 and fiercely followed up by the Central Boycott Office meeting held in Damascus in October 2001. Over the years, the boycott certification has become ineffective and, except Syria and Lebanon, none of the Arab League members seem to be implementing this provision. “We will not tolerate boycotts of Israel in this Administration,” declared Under Secretary for Industry and Security Jeffrey Kessler, according to a press release by the US Bureau of Industry & Security.
The Gaza peace deal will likely ensure Natanyahu’s re-election and a Nobel for Trump, but it’s very unlikely to guarantee lasting peace in Gaza or any place where Hamas and other trigger-happy terrorist outfits reign.
Seshadri Chari is the former editor of ‘Organiser’. He tweets @seshadrichari. Views are personal.
(Edited by Aamaan Alam Khan)
Nothing is going to change. It’s a very unique problem unlike anything we have seen. You have to give it to Hamas tho. They were able to make these western countries accept Palestine recognition even though they did acts of terrorism.
I hope this doesn’t set precedent for other terrorist groups. We are truly living in an immoral world.