Vision or illusion? The gaps that cast doubt on Trump's announcement of a Gaza agreement
The US President recently announced an ambitious agreement to settle the future of the Gaza Strip, but the gaps between Israel's demands and Hamas's position remain deep. The issues of demilitarization, the withdrawal of the IDF, and control on the 'day after' raise the question of whether Trump is once again putting the cart before the horse.
The recent announcement by US President Donald Trump that the Gaza Peace Council has a future comprehensive agreement between Israel and Hamas, planned to be realized within a few years, arouses great interest alongside heavy question marks regarding its practical implementation. The outline is supposed to change the map of the civil and security reality in the Gaza Strip, but a deep examination of its clauses reveals a yawning abyss between vision and reality.
The main points of the political outline rely on several central principles:
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Transferring full governing management from the hands of Hamas to a multinational force entrusted with order and organization.
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Establishing a new local and civil policing system to replace Hamas in managing the civil lives of Gaza residents.
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A gradual process of demilitarizing Hamas, carried out in stages parallel to the withdrawal of IDF forces towards the Israeli border.
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A comprehensive international plan for the rehabilitation of infrastructure and public institutions destroyed during the conflict.
According to media reports, Hamas is expressing principled willingness to discuss most clauses but is setting a clear red line regarding its full demilitarization.
The deep gaps between the parties
The central point of friction lies in the gap between the conditions set by Hamas and the security demands of Israel. Hamas conditions its agreement to partial demilitarization (storing heavy weapons) on a series of rigid demands:
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A total cessation of all Israeli attacks in the Strip.
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A complete withdrawal of the IDF from all areas of the Strip as a prerequisite.
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Immediate rehabilitation of the Strip with international funding.
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Dismantling all militias and local forces supported or operated by Israel.
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A principled demand for the establishment of a Palestinian state.
Israel demands the exact opposite: a complete and permanent demilitarization of all weapons in the hands of Hamas. Only after this process is fully completed will an Israeli withdrawal to the country's borders take place.
Between political vision and reality
Despite the fanfare surrounding Trump's announcement, the process appears devoid of any practical basis. Neither Israel nor Hamas has officially endorsed this outline. Ultimately, this conduct characterizes the American president's tendency to cultivate far-reaching visions that often remain pipe dreams, failing to stand the test of the complex reality of the Middle East.
The author is a Major General (res.). He served in the Armored Corps as a brigade, division, and corps commander, and served as the commander of the military colleges. He fought in the Yom Kippur War and was awarded the Medal of Courage. He served for about a decade as the Soldiers' Complaints Commissioner.
