Donald Trump's framework agreement for ending the Gaza war and reconstructing the devastated territory has momentum behind it. Much of it comes from the president himself, along with support from leading Arab and Islamic countries including Jordan, Egypt, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Pakistan, Indonesia, and Turkey. Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu also accepted it, despite the plan suggesting a potential pathway to a Palestinian state—a notion he has vehemently opposed.
Trump states that Hamas has three to four days to respond favorably; otherwise, the war will continue. Interestingly, the deal shows similarities to an earlier initiative proposed by Joe Biden, which had been stalled amid civilian casualties and escalating violence in Gaza.
The proposed agreement marks a pivotal moment, as Trump applies pressure on Israel to seek an end to the conflict, positioning himself as a key diplomatic player. However, there are significant concerns regarding the plan's lack of details, a common feature in Trump's diplomatic approach. While it includes a rough map for an IDF withdrawal, the essential negotiations that ensure the durability of any agreement are notably absent.
The plan has been met with mixed reactions within Israel, receiving support from mainstream opposition parties but harsh criticism from ultra-nationalists within Netanyahu’s coalition, who favor more extreme measures against Palestinians.
Furthermore, while the framework implies a future for Palestinian independence, Netanyahu has denied any support for this notion, complicating the agreement's interpretation. The ambiguity of the document allows for divergent readings by involved parties, leaving the peace process precariously balanced on a knife-edge.
Given the entrenched nature of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict lasting over a century, any path forward that does not recognize Palestinian statehood is deemed unlikely to achieve lasting peace. Even with international endorsement from Arab nations, the viability of Trump's framework remains uncertain as negotiations unfold.
