The Americans and Arab mediators worked for months for months to reach an agreement that would stop, at least temporarily, the conflicts in Gaza and lead to the liberation of more hostages.
Finally, as the WSJ reports, a war attack was the one that paved the way for an ambitious plan to finish the conflict.
On September 9, Israeli missiles hit an office in the Hamas executives to discuss President Trump’s latest proposal for a ceasefire. The attack, on the ground of an important ally, was made with a minimal warning to Trump and none to Qatar.
Gulf countries were outraged and demanded from Israel to correct the situation. Trump and his special envoy, Steve Whitkov, were afraid that their peacekeeping effort would be in the air. But the US president has decided to turn the crisis into an opportunity.
The attack reminded Arab leaders the danger of a regional ignition and prompted them to focus on peace again. At the same time, it gave Trump greater negotiating power against both Benjamin Netanyahu and Hamas, who were under pressure from their Arab allies themselves.
The new diplomatic mobility
Three weeks of intense talks followed, with continuous meetings between senior officials from Israel, Qatar and Saudi Arabia. Trump finally appeared in front of the White House cameras, announcing that he had a “complete peace plan”.
Next to him was Netanyahu, stating that. Many Arabs and Muslim leaders followed his example. Trump described the moment “perhaps one of the greatest in the history of culture”.
At the heart of the talks were Witkov, Jared Kouchner, Netanyahu’s close associate Ron Dermer and top officials from Qatar and Saudi Arabia.
The “thorns” of the plan
The arrival agreement incorporated ideas that were discussed in the early months of the war, but also contained provisions that have bothered many of the involved.
Netanyahu opposes any reference to a Palestinian state or the participation of the Palestinian Authority. Hamas denies complete disarmament and seeks guarantees for Israel’s departure.
The Arab governments are afraid that the plan is overly cruel to Hamas and inadequate in the prospect of Palestinian state state, which makes it difficult to accept it by their peoples.
So a dangerous balance game was shaped: no one wants to publicly reject a plan that privately considers unacceptable in its entirety. .
His headquarters, led by Kussner and Whitkov, will go to Egypt tomorrow Monday to promote hostage exchange and implementation of the more general plan.
An Israeli high -level mission with Dermer is expected to meet them there. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he hoped he would announce the liberation of hostages held in Gaza “in the coming days”.
The 20 -point design structure
According to officials from the White House, Israel and Arab capitals include the key elements of any possible agreement:
- Delivery of hostages from Hamas and her departure from power
- Gradual withdrawal of Israeli forces
- Developing International Arab Security Force in Gaza
- Administration of the enclave of Palestinian technocrats
Despite the optimism of the statements, the future of the plan remains uncertain.
The differences are great, the deep suspicions deep and the next phase of talks in Egypt will show whether the Trump initiative can be transformed from a communication narrative into real peace.
