Trump Returns from Middle East, Urges Peace Momentum/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ President Trump returned to Washington after brokering a landmark Gaza ceasefire, declaring peace had finally come to the Middle East. His challenge now lies in keeping Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu aligned with the deal, as internal political tensions and regional doubts threaten its implementation. With Hamas and Israel still divided over key terms, the hard work is just beginning.
Trump Returns to U.S. After Gaza Peace Push: Quick Looks
- Trump celebrates peace deal after two-year Israel-Hamas war
- Netanyahu under political pressure from right-wing coalition
- Gaza truce includes hostage swaps, Israeli withdrawal, aid corridors
- Trump pushes Netanyahu to honor 20-point peace plan
- Hamas’ future role in Gaza remains disputed
- Arab support tied to potential Palestinian statehood provision
- Trump’s political popularity in Israel gives him leverage
- Netanyahu’s critics demand Hamas’ total surrender
- U.S. plans future military and diplomatic involvement
- Analysts warn deal’s vagueness could undermine implementation
Deep Look
WASHINGTON — Fresh off a whirlwind Middle East visit, President Donald Trump returned to the White House early Tuesday, heralding a U.S.-brokered ceasefire between Israel and Hamas as the beginning of a new era of peace in the region.
But despite the celebrations in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt, where Trump met with over 20 world leaders and signed what he called a “historic” deal, questions loom over whether Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu can be kept on board as political dynamics shift at home.
“After so many years of unceasing war and endless danger, today the skies are calm,” Trump told the Israeli Knesset before flying to Egypt. “The sun rises on a holy land that is finally at peace.”
From Victory to Vigilance: Netanyahu’s Critical Role
Though the peace deal marked a diplomatic milestone for Trump — including the release of all living Israeli hostages and Israel’s frontline withdrawal from Gaza — analysts say the toughest phase lies ahead: enforcement.
Netanyahu, while aligned with Trump during the negotiations, now faces mounting pressure from right-wing coalition allies, such as National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir and Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, who have criticized the deal and hinted at abandoning the government.
“Netanyahu may shift his stance to protect his coalition ahead of Israel’s 2026 elections,” said Nimrod Goren, president of Israeli think tank Mitvim. “Trump will need to keep up the pressure.”
A Peace Deal With Unwritten Clauses
Trump’s 20-point peace plan, while broadly accepted by Israel and Hamas, leaves key provisions vague—especially regarding:
- Hamas disarmament
- Gaza governance during the transitional phase
- The role of a future Palestinian state
- Security coordination and long-term troop presence
While Hamas agreed in principle to the deal, the group’s official response avoided referencing disarmament or relinquishing control over Gaza — sparking concerns that the agreement’s ambiguity may invite future conflict.
“It’s hard to remember a deal that left so much undefined,” said Jon Alterman, Middle East expert at the Center for Strategic and International Studies.
Trump’s Leverage Over Netanyahu
What may give Trump an edge in enforcing compliance is his unmatched political popularity in Israel, even surpassing Netanyahu’s approval ratings.
“Trump’s greatest leverage is he’s more popular in Israel than Netanyahu,” Alterman said. “He can either support Netanyahu’s political future or sabotage it.”
In recent weeks, Trump’s tone has shifted from conciliatory to commanding. After a failed Israeli airstrike in Qatar, Trump reportedly forced Netanyahu to apologize personally to Qatari leadership — a rare diplomatic about-face.
During his Knesset speech, Trump even joked:
“Well, see, now you can be a little bit nicer, Bibi, because you’re not at war anymore,” drawing laughs from Israeli lawmakers.
The Role of Arab States and the Palestinian Question
A key inclusion in Trump’s deal — the potential for a future Palestinian state — helped win support from Arab nations. However, this clause may become a sticking point as Israeli political discourse increasingly rejects statehood talks following Hamas’ October 2023 attack.
“If the political narrative in Israel turns fully against Palestinian statehood, Arab support for pressuring Hamas may weaken,” said Dan Shapiro, former U.S. Ambassador to Israel.
Arab nations, including Qatar, Egypt, Jordan, and Saudi Arabia, have pledged reconstruction aid and diplomatic support — but much of that depends on a stable postwar roadmap that includes Palestinian representation.
Risks of Collapse: Hamas Resistance and Israeli Politics
Right-wing Israeli leaders have openly stated they will not tolerate any deal that leaves Hamas intact.
“We are not happy with any deal that is not total surrender of Hamas,” said Simcha Rothman, a member of Smotrich’s Religious Zionism Party. “We will not accept any partial victory.”
If Hamas refuses disarmament or if Israeli hardliners push for a renewed offensive, the entire peace framework could unravel.
Trump’s Diplomatic High Point – But for How Long?
Trump’s push for peace is now being seen as one of the defining foreign policy victories of his presidency — and potentially the foundation for a renewed Nobel Peace Prize campaign, bolstered by Pakistan’s nomination following the deal signing.
“He’s done what others couldn’t — getting both sides to the table,” said one senior U.S. official. “But the job isn’t done. Enforcement is everything.”
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