Trump Takes a Victory Lap in Israel - But Is the Gaza War Truly Over?

 

On Monday, US President Donald Trump delivered a more than hour-long address to the Israeli Parliament, celebrating the ceasefire deal that ended the Gaza conflict while firmly urging Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu not to resume hostilities.

 

Returning to the world stage, Trump sought to claim credit for brokering peace, arriving in Israel just as the first group of hostages was released by Hamas. Later, he presided over a swiftly organized peace summit in Egypt, marking what he described as "a new dawn for the Middle

 

East."The high-profile visit, filled with applause, bold statements, and political theater, has inspired both optimism and skepticism - raising questions about whether the ceasefire truly represents lasting peace or merely a pause in a long, painful cycle of conflict.

 

'A Historic Dawn' or Just a Fragile Truce?

 

Trump's arrival in Israel - timed moments after the first hostages were freed - sparked celebrations rarely seen for a foreign leader. In Tel Aviv's Hostages Square, crowds chanted his name, while members of the Knesset sported red caps reminiscent of his "Make America Great Again" campaign.Declaring before lawmakers that "this is not only the end of a war, this is the end of the age of terror and death," Trump hailed the ceasefire as "the historic dawn of a new Middle East."

 

However, as banners promoting peace waved in Egypt's Red Sea resort of Sharm el-Sheikh, where the summit took place, pressing questions remained unanswered. What does the ceasefire truly guarantee? And does it bring genuine peace to Gaza - or simply delay the next chapter of unrest?

 

Applause, Symbolism, and New Ambitions

 

During his speech, Trump praised Israel's military capabilities and defended its past strikes on Iran's nuclear infrastructure, claiming, "We lifted a great shadow from Israel and the Middle East." He asserted that Arab states would not have pressured Hamas to release hostages without his decision to neutralize Iran's nuclear threat.

 

In a surprising turn, Trump extended an unexpected overture to Tehran - the same government Washington and Tel Aviv had targeted months earlier. "You know what would be wonderful? If we could reach a peace deal with them," he said, prompting uneasy silence from the Israeli lawmakers.

 

Netanyahu, who has had a tense relationship with past US administrations, lauded Trump as "the greatest friend Israel has ever had in the White House." Some Israeli lawmakers even floated the idea of nominating Trump for the Nobel Peace Prize or the Israel Prize.

 

Yet behind the cheers and symbolism, the future of Gaza - and the question of Palestinian sovereignty - remains unclearInside the Gaza Ceasefire Deal

 

The truce, part of Trump's proposed 20-point peace framework, outlines measures for hostage exchanges, humanitarian aid delivery, and a gradual Israeli withdrawal from Gaza. However, Israel's full military pullout is contingent upon Hamas' disarmament - a stipulation that gives Netanyahu authority to resume military operations if the group fails to comply.