Salvaging the Ceasefire
U.S. Vice President JD Vance visited Israel, and Middle East Special Envoy Steve Witkoff toured the region. Both announced they aim to salvage the ceasefire in Gaza and stabilize Donald Trump's plan.
In fact, the ceasefire was breached when certain members of Hamas, whom Trump described as "rebels within," targeted two Israeli soldiers. As a result, the Israeli occupation army retaliated, killing approximately 50 Palestinians in one day, most of them civilians.
Trump and his administration believe that it is Israel's right to defend itself and that its response should be proportional to Hamas’ “fault. This made it clear that U.S. support for Israel would remain unwavering, especially under the current administration.
In reality, Trump is the model of a kind of leader who is all about appearances, photo ops, and generalities. He hates seriousness, substance, and details. However, for personal reasons, he built on this opportunity, which led him to propose the only plan that has been implemented, even if only in stages. Trump’s narcissism and desperate desire to be seen globally as a peacemaker worthy of a Nobel Prize compelled him to cling to this plan, demanding numerous commitments from Hamas and few from Israel.
The chances for Trump's plan to end the war are favorable. However, Trump’s ability to impose a comprehensive peace settlement and launch a path toward Palestinian statehood, as referenced in Point 19 of his plan, remains limited for reasons primarily related to Israel.
Regarding the Israeli government, we find that Benjamin Netanyahu desires neither peace nor a peaceful settlement. He thrives on conflict and absolutely rejects the two-state solution. His embrace of the Greater Israel project renders him unable to make any concessions toward achieving a lasting peace with the Palestinians in the eyes of his public and voters. On the other hand, Hamas' dilemma is that its ideological framework has, until now, rendered it incapable of making the necessary changes to its organizational structure and intellectual choices. While it is true that Hamas has, in practice, taken political positions contrary to its doctrinal foundation and accepted conditions it previously rejected, this is only because it no longer holds any strong cards or ability to pressure.
Nevertheless, Hamas will need to devise a formula parallel to its old one, composed of sympathizers and technocrats, rather than organizational members, who can administer the Gaza strip with integrity and independence during the transitional phase and present a new approach that is distinct from the street execution formula Hamas deployed this week.
The model of armed resistance championed by Hamas is not an end in itself, but a means to achieve independence and end the occupation. Currently, however, this model has become a burden on the Palestinian people. Gaza has now become the place in the world most capable of producing energetic young civilians who can document the crimes Israel committed against the Palestinian people and present them to the entire world as a model of civil and peaceful resistance. This would contribute to salvaging the ceasefire by increasing pressure on Israel, ending the occupation and establishing an independent Palestinian state.
In fact, the ceasefire was breached when certain members of Hamas, whom Trump described as "rebels within," targeted two Israeli soldiers. As a result, the Israeli occupation army retaliated, killing approximately 50 Palestinians in one day, most of them civilians.
Trump and his administration believe that it is Israel's right to defend itself and that its response should be proportional to Hamas’ “fault. This made it clear that U.S. support for Israel would remain unwavering, especially under the current administration.
In reality, Trump is the model of a kind of leader who is all about appearances, photo ops, and generalities. He hates seriousness, substance, and details. However, for personal reasons, he built on this opportunity, which led him to propose the only plan that has been implemented, even if only in stages. Trump’s narcissism and desperate desire to be seen globally as a peacemaker worthy of a Nobel Prize compelled him to cling to this plan, demanding numerous commitments from Hamas and few from Israel.
The chances for Trump's plan to end the war are favorable. However, Trump’s ability to impose a comprehensive peace settlement and launch a path toward Palestinian statehood, as referenced in Point 19 of his plan, remains limited for reasons primarily related to Israel.
Regarding the Israeli government, we find that Benjamin Netanyahu desires neither peace nor a peaceful settlement. He thrives on conflict and absolutely rejects the two-state solution. His embrace of the Greater Israel project renders him unable to make any concessions toward achieving a lasting peace with the Palestinians in the eyes of his public and voters. On the other hand, Hamas' dilemma is that its ideological framework has, until now, rendered it incapable of making the necessary changes to its organizational structure and intellectual choices. While it is true that Hamas has, in practice, taken political positions contrary to its doctrinal foundation and accepted conditions it previously rejected, this is only because it no longer holds any strong cards or ability to pressure.
Nevertheless, Hamas will need to devise a formula parallel to its old one, composed of sympathizers and technocrats, rather than organizational members, who can administer the Gaza strip with integrity and independence during the transitional phase and present a new approach that is distinct from the street execution formula Hamas deployed this week.
The model of armed resistance championed by Hamas is not an end in itself, but a means to achieve independence and end the occupation. Currently, however, this model has become a burden on the Palestinian people. Gaza has now become the place in the world most capable of producing energetic young civilians who can document the crimes Israel committed against the Palestinian people and present them to the entire world as a model of civil and peaceful resistance. This would contribute to salvaging the ceasefire by increasing pressure on Israel, ending the occupation and establishing an independent Palestinian state.
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