US President Donald Trump arrived in Israel on Monday, declaring the two-year war in Gaza over and predicting regional normalization, as a precarious ceasefire he helped mediate entered its fourth day, marked by a continued exchange of Israeli hostages and Palestinian prisoners.
According to a Reuters report, the conflict was ignited by a Hamas attack on October 7, 2023, that killed approximately 1,200 people in Israel and saw 251 individuals taken hostage. In response, Israeli airstrikes and ground operations have devastated Gaza, with health officials in the enclave reporting more than 67,000 Palestinian deaths.
“The war is over,” President Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One en route to Israel. When questioned about the future of the region, he stated, “I think it’s going to normalize.”
A Glimmer of Hope, But Peace Remains Distant
While the truce and the ongoing exchanges offer a moment of respite, the immense loss of life and widespread devastation underscore the formidable challenges to achieving a lasting peace. Further progress is now contingent on international commitments, which are expected to be a central topic at a summit of more than 20 world leaders, led by President Trump, in Egypt’s Sharm el-Sheikh resort later Monday.
On the ground, the United Nations reported a scaling-up of humanitarian aid, including the first delivery of cooking gas since March. However, Palestinians returning to northern Gaza described scenes of utter destruction.
Political Divisions on Display
Domestic tensions in Israel were starkly visible at a rally in Tel Aviv’s Hostages Square on Saturday. Multitudes cheered and waved placards praising President Trump during a speech by his special envoy, but the crowd booed loudly when the envoy thanked Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for his role in the ceasefire.
In a televised statement on Sunday, Netanyahu looked ahead, saying, “Tomorrow is the beginning of a new path. A path of building, a path of healing, and I hope – a path of uniting hearts.”
Challenges and a Post-War Plan
The US, along with Egypt, Qatar, and Turkey, mediated what is being described as a first-phase agreement. The next phase of President Trump’s proposed plan involves establishing an international “Board of Peace,” led by himself and former British Prime Minister Tony Blair, to assist in Gaza’s post-war administration.
However, significant hurdles remain. Key elements of the plan, including the governance of Gaza and the disarmament of Hamas, are still unresolved. Tense, indirect negotiations between Israel and Hamas over the list of Palestinian prisoners to be freed also threatened the fragile deal, with sources close to Hamas accusing Israel of backtracking on previously agreed names.
Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz warned that once all hostages are returned, the military would proceed with its objective to destroy Hamas’ underground tunnel network in Gaza.
