Donald Trump has declared “peace in the Middle East” after signing a deal meant to cement a ceasefire in Gaza. Analysts caution, however, that many obstacles remain before lasting peace can be achieved.
The president made a quick visit to Israel, praising Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in parliament, and then traveled to Egypt for a summit with regional leaders. Trump pledged to act as a guarantor for the Gaza ceasefire deal.
Under the agreement, Hamas released the last 20 surviving hostages after two years in captivity. In return, Israel freed 1,968 mostly Palestinian prisoners, according to its prison service.
Key issues remain unresolved, including Hamas’s refusal to disarm and Israel’s lack of a full withdrawal pledge from Gaza. Despite these challenges, Trump expressed confidence that the ceasefire will hold. He appeared alongside Egyptian President Abdel Fatah al-Sisi in Sharm el-Sheikh, noting that talks on next steps “had already started, as far as we’re concerned.”
The agreement marks a rare moment of progress in the long-running Middle East conflict, though experts warn that careful diplomacy will be needed to address lingering tensions and prevent future clashes.
