U.S. President Donald Trump gestures as he poses subsequent to an indication earlier than a household photograph at a world leaders’ summit on ending the Gaza warfare, amid a U.S.-brokered prisoner-hostage swap and ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas, in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt, Oct. 13, 2025.
Suzanne Plunkett | Reuters
U.S. President Donald Trump was in a bullish temper as he and different international leaders in Egypt signed on Monday the primary part of the Gaza ceasefire settlement, seen as a precursor to a doable peace deal between Hamas and Israel.
“This took 3,000 years to get thus far, are you able to imagine it? And it will maintain up too,” Trump mentioned confidently as he signed the deal in entrance of the world’s media.
“We have achieved what everyone mentioned was unattainable — in the end, we now have peace within the Center East,” Trump mentioned later throughout a information convention, flanked by different leaders. “No person thought we might ever get there, and now we’re there,” he added.
U.S. President Donald Trump poses with the signed settlement at a world leaders’ summit on ending the Gaza warfare, amid a U.S.-brokered prisoner-hostage swap and ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas, in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt, Oct. 13, 2025.
Suzanne Plunkett | Reuters
Whereas most agree that Trump deserves credit score for serving to to convey an instantaneous finish to the devastating warfare between Israel and Hamas — which noticed the return of Israeli hostages after two years in captivity and launch of just about 2,000 Palestinian prisoners and detainees — attaining a long-lasting peace is a unique matter.
“On the finish of the day, attending to a ceasefire was very, essential. It was necessary not only for Gaza and Israel, however for the entire area which has been consumed by this battle. But it surely’s additionally the straightforward half,” Rob Geist Pinfold, lecturer in Worldwide Safety, at King’s School London, advised CNBC Tuesday.
“Each side have proven some need to return to the desk and discuss and attain some sort of a deal, however the true variations are on what comes ‘the day after’,” Geist Pinfold famous.
20-point peace plan issues
Analysts notice that element is scant in Trump’s 20-point peace plan, that means there are a selection of gray areas and room for discontent and disagreement within the close to and long-term.
That is significantly salient with regards to each fast issues within the peace proposal, such because the demilitarization of Hamas and withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gazan territory it presently controls, to maybe the most important bone of competition: a two-state resolution for the Israelis and Palestinians.
Trump refused to be drawn on the matter as he travelled to Israel on Monday, telling reporters on Air Pressure One: “I am not speaking a few single state or double state or two state,” earlier than including: “Lots of people just like the one-state resolution, some folks just like the two-state resolution. We’ll must see.”
Whereas either side had mentioned “sure” to the ceasefire deal — with little different choice given rising worldwide strain and disquiet from Trump and regional companions within the Center East, in addition to the weakening of Iran, Hamas’ backer — either side might be on the lookout for the opposite to violate and scupper the deal, specialists say.
“Israel’s demand that Hamas be demilitarized, that its leaders go into exile … would basically imply that Hamas can be, in the event that they agreed to it, committing institutional suicide,” Geist Pinfold mentioned.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu addresses the Knesset as U.S. President Donald Trump and Amir Ohana, Speaker of the Israeli Knesset, look on October 13, 2025 in Jerusalem.
Chip Somodevilla | Through Reuters
“On the opposite facet an Israeli withdrawal from the Gaza Strip is one thing that [Prime Minister] Benjamin Netanyahu has resisted from day one,” he mentioned, including: “So the stakes are very, very excessive right here.”
The peace plan envisages the creation of a “board of peace,” to be chaired by Trump, to supervise the creation of a transitional authority to manage Gaza and supervise its reconstruction. How it will work in apply can be ambiguous, in addition to who will preserve the peace.
“In the case of the peacekeepers, we do not know what number of there might be, what international locations they are going to be from after they can be deployed, or what their mandate might be. All these questions have been kicked down the street,” Geist Pinfold mentioned.
Uriel Abulof, a visiting professor in Cornell College’s authorities division and professor of politics at Tel-Aviv College, agreed that the deal signed on the peace summit in Egypt on Monday was not essentially a “peace deal.”
“It is a survival pact for leaders who thrive on battle. For 2 years, Netanyahu and Hamas have used this warfare to solidify their energy, persevering with a long-standing dynamic the place either side’s extremism justifies the opposite’s,” Abulof mentioned in emailed feedback.
“This settlement, pressured upon them by exterior patrons just like the U.S. and Qatar, is intentionally obscure on core points, permitting each to assert a win,” he added.
Abulof mentioned either side shared an “unstated purpose” in trying to block a viable Palestinian Authority from governing Gaza. “Consequently, lasting peace is not on the desk,” he mentioned.
“The one path ahead is thru civic renewal, the place Israelis and Palestinians exchange leaders who see perpetual warfare as important for staying in energy,” he mentioned.
Glimmers of hope
Emotions of bitterness, mistrust and enmity, if not outright hatred, run deep on either side of the simmering battle and the most recent eruption of tensions has left 1000’s lifeless and displaced 1.7 million folks, in accordance with the United Nations.
A drone view reveals Palestinians standing close to rubble following the withdrawal of the Israeli forces from the realm, amid a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas in Gaza, in Gaza Metropolis, on Oct. 12, 2025.
Dawoud Abu Alkas | Reuters
Hamas’ assault on Israel on Oct. 7 2023 noticed the terrorist group kill 1,200 folks and take tons of hostage. Israel’s response and the following warfare left greater than 67,000 Palestinians lifeless, together with 1000’s of civilians, in accordance with Gaza’s Well being Ministry. Within the course of, Gaza itself has been largely destroyed with most buildings in ruins.
That ache and people losses won’t be forgotten, not to mention forgiven, in a single day. On the identical time, all peace processes have to begin someplace.
Folks react as they watch the hostage launch dwell stream at Hostages Sq. on Oct. 13, 2025 in Tel Aviv, Israel.
Alexi J. Rosenfeld | Getty Pictures Information | Getty Pictures
Thomas Schwartz, distinguished professor of Historical past and Political Science at Vanderbilt College, mentioned there’s room for cautious optimism.
“I do see some sturdy parallels to previous breakthroughs within the Center East, particularly Kissinger’s shuttle diplomacy and Jimmy Carter’s Camp David agreements,” he famous in emailed feedback Monday.
“That must also educate a little bit of warning – within the Center East, it is typically two steps ahead, after which one step backward. It is going to be an extended street to actual peace within the area, however I’m genuinely optimistic.”
