As Donald Trump announces the official end of the Israel-Hamas war, global leaders celebrate a historic ceasefire — but analysts caution that true peace in Gaza will demand patience, trust, and unprecedented cooperation.
A Historic Declaration — and a Cautious Celebration
In a moment hailed as “the dawn of peace in the Holy Land,” President Donald Trump declared the Israel-Hamas war officially over, marking the end of a two-year conflict that devastated Gaza and strained global diplomacy.
Speaking before the Israeli parliament on Monday, Trump said:
“After so many years of unceasing war and endless danger, today the skies are calm, the guns are silent, and the sun rises on a Holy Land that is finally at peace.”
His remarks followed the release of all remaining Israeli hostages in Gaza and the freedom of more than 1,900 Palestinian prisoners — the first step of Trump’s ambitious 20-point Middle East peace plan.
But even as celebrations echoed across Jerusalem and Cairo, experts warned that this was only the beginning of a long and fragile process.
Netanyahu: ‘We Will Achieve This Peace’
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, while cautious not to declare total victory, praised Trump’s leadership for achieving what many thought impossible.
“Mr. President, today we thank you for your pivotal leadership,” Netanyahu said. “Your proposal ends the war by achieving our objectives and opens the door to historic peace.”
Following his address, Trump traveled to Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt, where he co-chaired a peace summit with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi. The summit, attended by more than 20 world leaders, culminated in the official signing of the Sharm el-Sheikh Agreement, a ceasefire designed to secure long-term stability in the region.
El-Sisi called the accord “a glimpse of hope that ends an agonizing chapter in human history.”
Experts: “This Is Not Peace Yet”
Despite the celebrations, former U.S. Ambassador Michael Ratney told ABC News that peace remains elusive.
“I’d like to say it was peace. It’s not peace yet,” Ratney said. “There’s still a lot of work ahead — including many steps in Trump’s 20-point plan.”
According to sources close to the negotiations, key unresolved issues include:
- The complete withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza.
- Hamas ceding control of the enclave.
- The disarmament and decommissioning of Hamas fighters.
- Establishing an international trusteeship to govern Gaza under U.S. and Arab oversight.
Former U.S. counterterrorism director Javid Ali added that disarming Hamas would be “a major challenge,” citing historical examples like the IRA in Northern Ireland and FARC in Colombia as models for militant demobilization.
Ceasefire Tested by New Tensions
The fragility of the ceasefire was tested almost immediately. The Hostage Families Forum accused Hamas of violating the agreement after releasing the remains of only four of the 28 hostages who died in captivity.
Hours later, clashes erupted in Gaza, leaving five Palestinians dead after Israeli forces opened fire. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) claimed the Palestinians had crossed a restricted zone, while Hamas accused Israel of breaking the truce first.
Analysts say such incidents underscore how “deep mistrust could still derail the peace.”
What Comes Next for Gaza
Trump suggested on Air Force One that Hamas will temporarily act as a police force in Gaza “for a period of time,” under strict international monitoring.
“They’ve lost 60,000 people,” Trump said. “Now they want peace. We’re watching closely to make sure stability holds.”
Experts agree that the success of the plan depends entirely on both sides honoring their commitments.
Mick Mulroy, former Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for the Middle East, said:
“The only way this plan works is if both sides stick to it. If even one side falters, the rest could collapse.”
Still, Trump remained confident during the summit’s closing ceremony:
“This took 3,000 years to get to this point — and it’s going to hold up, too.”
A New Chapter in Middle East Peace — or the Start of Another Challenge?
As the Israel-Hamas war formally ends, the world watches closely to see whether Trump’s agreement marks a lasting peace or simply a pause in decades of conflict.
The coming months will reveal whether this ambitious accord becomes a turning point for the Middle East — or a reminder that true peace takes far more than signatures and speeches.