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World leaders hailed the announcement of a ceasefire and hostage-prisoner exchange agreement between Israel and Hamas, urging urgent aid for Gaza civilians but the question is how Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu acquiesced to a deal he had been rejecting for over 6 months. The answer is Us President-elect Donald Trump if you believe Israeli newspaper Haaretz.
Israel and Hamas have reached an agreement to secure the release of Israeli hostages and bring an end to hostilities After 15 months of brutal Israeli onslaught on Gaza which resulted in over 45000 dead Palestinians.
Israel will withdraw from a major part of Gaza over the first six weeks under this three-phase deal, releasing hundreds of Palestinian prisoners in exchange for Hamas freeing 33 Israeli captives. If successful, further negotiations will aim to release the remaining hostages and rebuild Gaza in subsequent phases.
How Donald Trump influenced the agreement
The breakthrough comes when former U.S. President Donald Trump claims his influence made the deal happen, with President Joe Biden’s administration falling short. Central to the process is Steven Witkoff, New York real estate magnate and Trump’s envoy to the Middle East, who facilitated negotiations held by Qatar. Witkoff’s efforts, with U.S. political pressure bringing Israel and Hamas to the negotiating table, result in the historic agreement.
This truce does provide Gazans with a respite and rebuilding opportunity after being the victims of the deadliest war in their history. But what about its sustainability: is this a treaty that sets a stage for a long-lasting cease-fire or merely a lull?
Without a doubt, the deal future will depend on Trump’s approach. Even though the previous administration of his had been a strong pro-Israel’s administration and adopted policies unilaterally disastrous for Palestinians, it is still hoped that he will now make sure that the deal remains a success. For the truce to last, it is essential that Trump’s administration, along with Qatar’s mediators, Egypt’s, and the U.S., force the Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, and his far-right government to abide by the terms, starting an itinerary toward peace.
