What was unthinkable just weeks ago is now a reality: the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza may be coming to an end—at least for now. President Donald Trump announced on October 8 that both Israel and Hamas reached a ceasefire agreement that is widely described as a realistic conclusion to the two-year conflict.
Yet, while any agreement that ends Israel’s campaign in Gaza and releases the remaining captives held by Hamas is a welcome one, the details of the so-called “roadmap” remain vague and questionable at best, leaving room for Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu to spoil broader peace talks again.
Trump’s 20-point peace plan, negotiated extensively with Arab leaders across the Middle East at the UN General Assembly in September, contains many details that look similar to previous ceasefire agreements. That approach, coupled with a clear rejection of Israel’s most hawkish demands, has helped garner Hamas’ acceptance of some core elements while cornering Netanyahu and blocking his ability to spoil the deal. The effort constitutes the strong-arm approach to foreign policy that has come to define the Trump administration.
In pressing Netanyahu and following through when the Israeli prime minister has attempted to sidestep clearly stated U.S. interests and demands, Trump differentiates himself from previous presidents, particularly former President Joe Biden. Netanyahu has made a name for himself in U.S. and Israeli political circles as a master of manipulation, displaying political gamesmanship that has allowed him to advance his political interests—even at the expense of his country’s security and people since October 7, 2023. At the moment, those days appear to be over.
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