Key Takeaways

• A Trump-brokered ceasefire led to the release of all living Israeli hostages and nearly 2,000 Palestinian prisoners.
• Trump now aims to expand his deal into a full Middle East peace effort.
• Experts warn that past plans from Oslo to Iraq failed badly.
• An Egypt summit produced only a vague agreement on peace.
• Israeli leader Benjamin Netanyahu skipped the meeting over holiday and political tensions.

What the ceasefire achieved

Late Monday, both sides began a ceasefire that freed living Israeli hostages and Palestinian prisoners. Hamas released every living hostage held since October. In return, Israel freed about 2,000 detainees. The deal won support from Egypt, Qatar and Turkey. It offered relief after two years of devastating war. Yet many see this pause as just the first step.

Trump peace plan targets full regional peace

After the swap, President Trump moved fast. He wants to shift from a simple ceasefire to a broader peace. This bold pivot marks the second stage of the Trump peace plan. He outlined his goal at a summit in Egypt on Monday. He invited nearly two dozen countries from Europe and the Middle East to back his vision. However, the plan still faces big hurdles.

Many insiders say Trump is making a big gamble. They note that this gamble breaks from traditional diplomacy. Yet he argues that his track record on hostage talks shows new methods can work. He believes both sides might now feel ready to try lasting peace. Still, critics worry his approach could inflame tensions among Israel, Palestinians and the wider Muslim world.

Old failures loom large

History shows the Middle East has crushed many high-profile plans. For example, George W. Bush overthrew Saddam Hussein hoping Iraq would adopt democracy. Instead, the region sank into a brutal insurgency. The conflict took years to control and left deep scars.

Similarly, the Biden administration tried to craft a plan to end this war. Yet it never gained real traction. Meanwhile, the 1993 Oslo Accords once promised a path to peace. Those accords also collapsed amid renewed violence. In every case, negotiators underestimated the region’s deep divisions.

Therefore, many experts ask: Can the Trump peace plan really deliver this time? Already, cracks appear in the proposal’s second stage. Opponents point to a lack of trust between key players and the absence of detailed steps on crucial issues like borders and security.

Cracks appear at Egypt summit

On Monday night, the summit ended with a brief, vague deal signed by Turkey, Egypt and Qatar. Unlike the hostage swap, this agreement offered no clear timeline or guarantees. Instead, it called for future talks on disputed issues.

Most strikingly, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu did not attend. Trump helped arrange an invitation, but Netanyahu declined. He cited the start of Simchat Torah, a Jewish holiday. However, other officials say Arab states objected to his presence. They blamed Israel’s military actions in Gaza and feared political fallout back home.

Without Israel’s leader, the summit lost a key voice. Delegates still praised the ceasefire, yet warned the second stage of the Trump peace plan needed more buy-in. They stressed that any long-term deal must address the dire humanitarian situation in Gaza. Moreover, they urged stronger guarantees that violence would not resume.

Why this plan faces steep challenges

First, both Israelis and Palestinians have deep wounds. Many families still mourn hostages and victims of past attacks. Second, regional powers hold diverging agendas. Countries like Turkey, Egypt and Qatar often back opposite sides. They distrust each other’s motives.

Third, life in Gaza and the West Bank remains harsh. Basic services still lag, and poverty is widespread. Without real improvements, any peace deal risks collapse. Fourth, political leaders fear backlash at home. Netanyahu’s own coalition is fragile. Palestinian leaders also face critics who reject any deal seen as favoring Israel.

Moreover, extremists on both sides could sabotage progress. Past attempts at peace saw violent groups quickly drag talks off course. Therefore, any new plan must include strict measures to prevent flare-ups.

Can unconventional diplomacy work?

Trump’s backers point to his success in freeing hostages. They say this shows he can cut deals where others failed. Indeed, his team used back-channel talks and personal ties with regional leaders. They argue this style bypasses formal processes that often bog down negotiations.

However, unconventional methods bring risks. For one, they can exclude key stakeholders. The Egypt summit, for example, left out critical parties like Israel’s war cabinet. Second, secret deals can fuel suspicion. If groups learn they were not consulted, they may revolt.

Therefore, for the Trump peace plan to succeed, it must balance innovative tactics with inclusive talks. It needs clear steps, transparent rules and strong enforcement. Without these, any agreement could crumble under pressure.

What happens next

Trump calls for a follow-up summit later this year. He hopes to draw in more Arab states and secure Israeli agreement. He also plans to unveil detailed proposals on borders, security and refugee issues. Yet his team has not released any text.

Meanwhile, people on the ground remain cautious. Many civilians welcome the ceasefire but doubt a full peace deal can hold. They have seen promises rise and fall before. Aid groups warn that hunger, disease and displacement still haunt Gaza. Unless the plan tackles these problems, any peace will feel hollow.

Still, Trump’s supporters remain optimistic. They believe his bold gamble could break the cycle of failure in the region. They say that after two years of war, both sides might actually seek peace.

In the coming weeks, attention will focus on whether Israel and Palestinian leaders will formally endorse the detailed plan. Success will require real trust and tough compromises. Failure could leave the Middle East once again stuck in war and despair.

FAQs

What is the Trump peace plan?

The Trump peace plan is a two-stage effort to end the Israel-Hamas war. First, it secured a ceasefire and hostage swap. Now, it aims for a broader regional peace deal.

Why didn’t Netanyahu attend the Egypt summit?

Netanyahu cited the start of Simchat Torah as his reason. Yet some Arab countries quietly opposed his presence over Israel’s actions in Gaza.

How does this plan differ from past efforts?

This plan uses unconventional, back-channel diplomacy. Its supporters say it bypasses slow formal talks. However, it still faces many of the same challenges past plans did.

What are the biggest hurdles now?

Key hurdles include deep mistrust on both sides, harsh living conditions in Gaza, and political risks for leaders. Experts warn that a vague agreement without clear steps may not hold.