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. Momentum comes too from leading Arab and Islamic countries who have supported the plan, including Jordan, Egypt, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Pakistan, Indonesia and Turkey. Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has also accepted the proposal despite its discussion of a pathway to a Palestinian state—a concept he has previously denounced.
To maintain the pace, Trump has given Hamas a strict timeline of three to four days to agree to the terms, or face continued conflict.
The proposed deal resembles an earlier initiative from President Joe Biden. Since that plan was shelved due to escalating violence and humanitarian crises in Gaza, Trump’s framework has emerged as a significant pivot in U.S.-Israeli negotiations. For the first time, Trump appears to be pressuring Israel to conclude the conflict, making Israel’s compliance a matter of avoiding international backlash.
Before returning to Israel, Netanyahu was seen recording a message suggesting that he had no intention of agreeing to a Palestinian state, despite endorsing Trump's plan. This contradiction raises questions about the plan's interpretation, with Netanyahu trying to placate both international support and domestic hardliners.
The strength of the plan lies in its momentum, driven by international backing, while its chief weakness is its lack of detail—an unfortunate trend in Trump’s diplomatic style. The agreement lacks the concrete steps necessary for lasting peace, relying instead on goodwill and strategic negotiations. Without clear outlines for implementation, the potential for breakdowns in negotiation remains a significant concern.
The polarized response within Israel to the plan has been stark, with mainstream parties signaling support while ultra-nationalists oppose it vehemently. The plan explicitly states that no Palestinian will be forced to vacate, a demand faced with backlash from hardline factions within Netanyahu's coalition.
As pressure mounts on both Hamas and the Israeli government, the ambiguity of the agreement leaves room for interpretation—highlighting the considerable challenges ahead. In the face of such deep-seated conflict, the question remains whether any plan that does not offer a clear path to Palestinian independence can succeed in securing peace.
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