The release by Hamas of all 20 surviving Israeli hostages, together with Israel’s freeing of almost 2,000 Palestinian prisoners, should be a moment of relief not just for the people of the region but for a world exhausted and horrified by the spectacle of unending war. Though the grief remains immeasurable, yesterday’s exchange closes one of the most brutal and despairing chapters in the long history of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. It also marks an undeniable political achievement for Donald Trump, nine months into his second term.
The US president, characteristically eager to claim credit, basked in a standing ovation at the Knesset before flying to Sharm el Sheikh for a summit on the path ahead. His blunt, transactional style proved, at least this time, to be a decisive tool. The framework of the accord did not differ greatly from earlier drafts that had not been acceptable to either side. But Trump’s readiness to dispense both pressure and flattery coaxed movement where there had previously been only paralysis. This outcome, though fragile, is one that eluded his predecessor, Joe Biden.
Other dynamics also shaped the deal. Iran’s waning regional influence, the diplomatic fatigue of Arab states and Israel’s misjudged airstrikes on Hamas targets in Qatar all contributed to a sense that a pause was preferable to further escalation.
That Israeli miscalculation allowed Trump, who previously had given carte blanche to the assault on Gaza, to rein Netanyahu in. The spectacle of Trump and his family being acclaimed by Israeli crowds may act as a restraining factor on Netanyahu in the days and weeks ahead.
RM Block
Meanwhile Hamas has already begun to reassert control in parts of Gaza vacated by Israeli troops. The humanitarian landscape remains dire. Gaza lies in ruins, its infrastructure shattered, its population traumatised and displaced. Reconstruction – political and physical – will demand resources and patience that neither side has yet shown in abundance. The question of governance looms largest. Who will fill the vacuum left by Israel’s withdrawal and Hamas’s partial collapse? Egypt and Jordan, wary of entanglement, hesitate to step in; the United Nations lacks a mandate or resources.
For Trump, the challenge is to convert a moment of spectacle into something more stable. His instincts favour deals, not follow-through. But without sustained engagement, money, diplomacy, and restraint, the situation could slide quickly back into chaos.
For Israelis and Palestinians, yesterday’s events may offer only a brief reprieve. Still, in a conflict defined by its futility, even a fleeting sense of relief carries weight. It reminds us that the machinery of peace can move, as long as someone, however improbably, decides to turn the key.
