Trump Sets Off For The Mideast To Mark A Ceasefire Deal And Urge Arab Leaders To Seize The Moment

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump is heading to Israel and Egypt on Sunday to celebrate. US-brokered ceasefire and hostage agreement between Israel and Hamas and we call on Middle Eastern allies to seize the opportunity to build a new world. lasting peace in the volatile region.

It is a sensitive moment when Israel and Hamas are still in the early stages of implementation. first stage The Trump agreement, designed to bring a permanent end to the war sparked by October 7, 2023, Attack on Israel by Hamas-led militants.

Trump sees a narrow window to reshape the Middle East and reset long-tense relations between Israel and its Arab neighbors.

The Republican president says this was a moment when his administration’s support helped Israel destroy Iran’s proxies, including Hamas in Gaza and Hezbollah in Lebanon.

The White House says momentum is also increasing because Arab and Muslim states They show a renewed focus on resolving the decades-long broader Israeli-Palestinian conflict and, in some cases, deepening relations with the United States

“I think you will have tremendous success and Gaza will be rebuilt,” Trump said Friday. “And as you know, there are very rich countries out there. It would take a small fraction of their wealth to do that. And I think they want to do that, too.”

The first phase of the ceasefire agreement calls for the release of the last 48 hostages held by Hamas; Among them, about 20 are believed to be alive; release Hundreds of Palestinian prisoners In the hands of Israel; increased humanitarian aid to Gaza; and the partial withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza’s main cities.

On Friday, Israeli troops completed their withdrawal from parts of Gaza, triggering a 72-hour countdown under an agreement for Hamas to release Israeli hostages, likely while Trump was there. He said he expected their return to be completed on Monday or Tuesday.

Trump said he would first visit Israel, where he was invited to speak at the Knesset, Israel’s parliament; it was an honor last bestowed on President George W. Bush during a visit in 2008. Trump will then travel to Egypt with himself and the Egyptian President. Abdel Fattah el-Sissi He will lead a summit of leaders from more than 20 countries in Sharm el-Sheikh to discuss peace in Gaza and the Middle East.

This is a weak ceasefire and the parties no agreement reached On the post-war administration of Gaza, the reconstruction of the territory, and Israel’s demand for the disarmament of Hamas. Negotiations on these issues may be disrupted, and Israel has hinted that it may continue military operations if its demands are not met.

“I think the chances of (Hamas) disarming themselves are pretty close to zero,” H.R. McMaster, Trump’s first-term national security adviser, said Thursday at an event hosted by the Foundation for Defense of Democracies. He said he thought the Israeli army would probably “have to destroy them” in the coming months.

Israel continues to rule millions of Palestinians without basic rights Settlements are expanding rapidly Across the occupied West Bank. On the contrary increasing international recognitionBecause of Israel’s opposition, a Palestinian state seems extremely distant and actions on the field,

The war isolated Israel internationally and pitted it against Israel. genocide allegationshe denies this. International arrest warrants Trials against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his former defense minister are ongoing, and the United Nations’ highest court is considering genocide allegations brought by South Africa.

Hamas was decimated militarily and released the hostages, giving up its only bargaining chip with Israel. But the Islamist militant group remains intact. and can finally be rebuilt if there is a long period of calm.

Netanyahu reiterated that Israel will continue to disarm Hamas after the hostages are returned.

“Hamas accepted the agreement only when it felt that the sword was and still is on its neck,” Netanyahu said Friday as Israel began withdrawing its troops.

Most of Gaza remains under rubble and reconstruction is expected to take years. The region’s nearly 2 million residents continue to struggle under desperate conditions.

Under the agreement, Israel agreed to reopen five border crossings to help ease the flow of food and other supplies into Gaza, where parts of the country are experiencing shortages.

Trump is also establishing a US-led civil-military coordination center in Israel. humanitarian aid flow As well as logistical and security assistance to Gaza.

Approximately 200 US soldiers will be sent to help monitor the ceasefire agreement as part of a team that includes partner countries, non-governmental organizations and private sector players.

The White House has signaled that Trump is trying to quickly return attention to his first-term efforts. Abraham AccordsEstablished diplomatic and commercial ties between Israel and the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Morocco.

A permanent deal in Gaza would pave the way for Trump to begin talks with Saudi Arabia and Indonesia, the most populous Muslim nation, on normalizing ties with Israel, according to a senior Trump administration official who briefed reporters on condition of anonymity.

Such an agreement with Saudi Arabia, the most powerful and rich Arab state, has the potential to reshape the region and strengthen Israel’s position in historic ways.

But brokering such a deal remains a heavy burden, as the kingdom has said it will not officially recognize Israel without a solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

Krauss reported from Ottawa, Ontario.

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