Trump Announces Historic Israel-Hamas Peace Deal — But Will It Stick?

🕊️ Washington, D.C. — In a stunning diplomatic breakthrough, President Donald Trump announced Wednesday evening that Israel and Hamas have agreed to a landmark peace framework aimed at ending the devastating two-year war in Gaza. The deal, forged through intense backchannel negotiations and facilitated by Qatar, Egypt, and Turkey, marks the most significant attempt at reconciliation between the two sides since the 2014 ceasefire — and places Trump at the center of a volatile region’s future.

“This is a GREAT Day for the Arab and Muslim World, Israel, all surrounding Nations, and the United States of America,” Trump proclaimed on Truth Social, quoting Psalm 122 and calling the agreement “a Strong, Durable, and Everlasting Peace.” The announcement was met with cautious optimism across global capitals, though many analysts warn that the road ahead is fraught with uncertainty.

🔑 Key Details of the Peace Plan

The agreement, dubbed the “Covenant of Restoration,” outlines a multi-phase roadmap designed to de-escalate hostilities and lay the groundwork for long-term governance and reconstruction:

• Hostage Release: Hamas will release 20 living hostages within 72 hours of Israeli cabinet approval, along with the remains of 28 deceased individuals. The list includes Israeli civilians, foreign nationals, and IDF soldiers captured during the October 2023 incursion.

• Israeli Withdrawal: Israeli Defense Forces will retreat to a demarcated buffer zone along the Wadi Gaza corridor, effectively ending combat operations in central and southern Gaza. The withdrawal will be monitored by UN observers and U.S. military advisors.

• Prisoner Exchange: Israel will release 250 Palestinian prisoners serving life sentences, including several high-profile figures, and 1,700 Gazans detained since the war’s onset. The exchange will be staggered over three weeks to ensure compliance.

• Governance of Gaza: A temporary technocratic committee composed of Palestinian academics, civil society leaders, and diaspora representatives will administer Gaza. Oversight will be provided by an international “Board of Peace” chaired by Trump, with rotating seats for the EU, Arab League, and African Union.

🌍 Global Reaction

The announcement drew swift reactions from world leaders. French President Emmanuel Macron hailed the deal as “a courageous step toward justice and reconciliation,” while Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan called it “a turning point for the dignity of the Palestinian people.” Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, whose intelligence services played a key role in the negotiations, praised Trump’s “unwavering commitment to regional stability.”

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, appearing alongside Trump in a joint video statement, expressed gratitude and emphasized the importance of bringing all hostages home. “This is a moment of hope,” Netanyahu said. “We will not forget our duty to protect our citizens and secure our borders.”

❓ Will It Hold?

Despite the celebratory tone, deep skepticism remains. Hamas has not agreed to full disarmament, nor has it relinquished its claim to future political leadership in Gaza. The group’s military wing, the Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades, issued a terse statement acknowledging the deal but warning that “resistance remains a sacred right.”

Israeli hardliners, including members of Netanyahu’s coalition, have voiced concern over the prisoner release and the perceived legitimization of Hamas. Meanwhile, Palestinian factions in the West Bank, including Fatah, have criticized the technocratic committee as “undemocratic and externally imposed.”

The humanitarian toll of the conflict has been staggering: over 67,000 Palestinians killed, tens of thousands injured, and nearly 1.2 million displaced. Gaza’s infrastructure lies in ruins, with hospitals, schools, and water systems barely functional. The peace plan includes a $12 billion reconstruction fund, to be administered by the World Bank and funded by Gulf states and the U.S. Congress — though its approval remains uncertain.

Trump is scheduled to travel to Cairo this weekend to meet with regional leaders and oversee the initial implementation phase. He has called the agreement “the biggest foreign policy achievement of his presidency,” and hinted at a broader Middle East peace initiative to follow.

As the world watches, the question remains: Can this fragile accord withstand the pressures of history, ideology, and trauma? Or will it, like so many before it, unravel in the face of mistrust and violence?