Since Israel began its military operations, reports have frequently mentioned an imminent end to the war. However, unexpected Israeli strikes thwart these plans, sometimes through the assassination of Ismail Haniyeh and Hassan Nasrallah, or by bombing Iran, and even attempting to assassinate Hamas leaders in Qatar. Some observers question whether the talk of ending the war in Gaza is a new trick by Israel to target again, with American coordination and cover, or if it could be a true end to the battles in the sector this time.
These statements came before a scheduled meeting between Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to discuss the American peace plan. Livett stated, “President Trump has the necessary experience to reach a fair agreement that satisfies both parties,” emphasizing that the solution requires mutual concessions from Israel and Hamas. She added, “Both parties may leave the negotiating table not entirely satisfied, but this is the only way to end the conflict.” Livett clarified that Trump insists on ending the fighting and releasing hostages, noting that Special Envoy Whitcov has proposed a detailed 21-point plan to both parties.
Palestinian writer and analyst Nidal Khadra stated, “It is too early to predict whether the meeting between President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will be decisive and relevant to Washington’s will to stop the war in Gaza.” According to his statement to “Sputnik,” there are two possibilities on the table: the first being a genuine American will to stop the war, and the second being that this plan is merely a new maneuver, giving Netanyahu a chance to continue the destruction and killing in Gaza City.
He noted that “Netanyahu seeks another position from Trump and guarantees related to Syria and Iran.” He continued, “Therefore, it is expected that Netanyahu will agree to the deal, but with exceptions, and in this case, the devil is in the details.” In this context, Mohammad Hassan Kanaan, head of the Arab National Party and former Israeli Knesset member, confirmed that “the current situation is no different from previous ones,” emphasizing that “Israel is a deceitful state, and the American administration under Trump is characterized by unprecedented deceit and arrogance.”
He stated that “global and European pressures, and the pressures of peoples around the world, have become a significant burden on the American administration and global public opinion, as well as within itself.” He expressed a slight hope that “these pressures might contribute to ending this unjustified mad war,” which he described as “the longest war in history with the largest human extermination.” Kanaan noted that “previous deals and plans indicate that such moves were often used as a cover for Israel and America’s plans to target anew,” suggesting that “this time, it might be directed against Iran and Yemen, not an Arab state.”
He questioned the nature of the meetings between the leaders of the four countries and President Trump, whether they were merely casual meetings or aimed to pressure him to stop the possibility of expanding this war in the Middle East. Meanwhile, Dr. Ayman Al-Raqab, a Palestinian political science professor, pointed out that “every talk about an agreement in the region is met with escalation by the Israeli occupation,” noting that “these operations are not far from coordination with.”
Regarding the war on Gaza, Al-Raqab said, “So far, things are in the discussion phase, and there is no indication that the war is indeed about to end,” pointing out that Netanyahu’s conference with Trump and his statements did not resolve whether the war will stop and the reconstruction phase of Gaza will begin, or will continue, and so far the attempts of the occupation and the American administration remain unchanged in this vision.
Al-Raqab expressed surprise at the summoning of American generals for urgent meetings, saying: “We do not know what they are planning for, whether the war will be in Europe or in the region,” expecting them to turn towards occupying Yemen and controlling regional waters, as everything is possible in this complex calculation by the American administration and the Israeli occupation.
Trump added that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu “supports this plan, along with support from Arab and Islamic countries.” Trump noted that “the Gaza deal is nearing its final stages.” Axios reported that Trump presented, last Tuesday, a 21-point peace plan regarding Gaza to Arab and Muslim leaders.
The plan is supposed to involve regional partners providing security guarantees to ensure that Hamas and other factions in Gaza comply with their commitments, and that Gaza no longer poses a “threat” to Israel or its people. The plan also includes the United States working with other Arab and international partners to establish a temporary international stabilization force, immediately deployed in Gaza to oversee security in the sector. This force will develop and train a Palestinian police force to serve as a long-term internal security apparatus.
The plan also states that “Israel will not occupy or annex Gaza, and the Israeli army will gradually hand over the territories it currently occupies, with alternative security forces establishing control and stability in the sector.” Israel launched an intensive military operation in Gaza City on September 16, including a ground incursion and heavy bombing, stating that “the objective of the operation is to control Gaza and eliminate Hamas.”
Israel resumed its bombing of the Gaza Strip on March 18, after a hiatus of nearly two months, specifically since the ceasefire agreement with Hamas came into effect on January 19, following stalled talks to extend the first phase of the agreement or move to its second phase.
The ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas was supposed to continue once the first phase ended on March 1, or enter its second phase, but disagreements between Israel and Hamas over the next steps prevented that.
Russian President Vladimir Putin warned that the Gaza Strip is experiencing a “humanitarian disaster,” while the Russian Foreign Ministry stressed the necessity to end the war in Gaza and launch Palestinian-Israeli negotiations aimed at achieving a two-state solution, establishing an independent Palestinian state coexisting peacefully and securely with Israel.
