US President Donald Trump is close to brokering a major diplomatic accomplishment in the Middle East – a cease-fire between Israel and Hamas. This deal could be a test of his presidency as a peacemaker and may bring him closer to winning the Nobel Peace Prize. However, critics warn that success will depend on how long the peace plan holds.
If successful, this deal would mark an extraordinary step towards peace in the region, especially if Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu withdraws troops from Gaza City and gives up control of the shattered remains of Gaza. This could also stop the carnage that has killed 1,200 people in Israel and over 60,000 Palestinians.
The Abraham Accords, which normalized relations between Israel and several Arab states, was President Trump’s best international achievement so far. However, stopping the war in Gaza is a bigger accomplishment. The conflict has left Israel more powerful but also more isolated, with many of its closest allies calling for the creation of a Palestinian state.
A successful deal would require Hamas to give up its negotiating leverage by releasing 20 living hostages this weekend and with them its claim to run Gaza. It would also need Netanyahu to withdraw troops from Gaza City and stop his plan to take control of the shattered remains of Gaza.
However, critics warn that this is a fragile cease-fire and there are many challenges ahead. The United States and its allies will have to assemble an “interim leadership” for Gaza and ensure that Hamas sympathies are purged from Israeli institutions. It’s also unclear how the Palestinian Authority will play in this process.
The history of the Middle East suggests that peace accords are difficult to achieve, but they can be worth trying again.
Source: https://www.nytimes.com/2025/10/08/us/politics/trump-mideast-visit-israel-gaza.html