After two years of relentless warfare, the guns have fallen silent – at least for now. The ceasefire signed in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt, between Israel and Hamas, brokered by U.S. President Donald Trump with several Middle Eastern countries, Egyptian and Qatari support, marks a pivotal moment in one of the bloodiest chapters of the Gaza genocide.
For Hamas, the accord represents a calculated political gamble – a mix of tactical restraint and strategic positioning. For Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, it could prove a political lifeline after years of international condemnation and growing domestic unrest.
A Pact Forged Amid Pressure and Fatigue
The agreement, concluded after weeks of diplomacy, includes provisions for a phased Israeli troop withdrawal from northern Gaza, a largescale exchange of hostages and prisoners, and the immediate entry of international humanitarian aid into the besieged enclave.
For Netanyahu, the deal brings relief from mounting pressure at home and abroad. Israel’s two-year-long offensive has left over 70,000 Palestinians dead, the majority of them civilians, and displaced nearly a million people. The aggression’s heavy civilian toll has triggered unprecedented criticism from Israel’s allies, including several European nations, and ruling by the International Court of Justice into the war crimes.
Inside Israel, public anger has been growing over the government’s failure to secure the hostages earlier despite its vast military and intelligence resources. Analysts suggest Netanyahu’s acceptance of the truce is as much about political survival as national strategy.
Trump’s Diplomatic Gamble
President Trump’s direct role in the mediation has added a dramatic dimension to the ceasefire. Determined to cement his legacy as a “peace president,” Trump personally oversaw the negotiations.
His efforts have earned cautious praise from world leaders. While critics accuse him of seeking a foreign policy triumph to offset domestic controversies, others acknowledge that his high-risk, personality-driven diplomacy succeeded where years of conventional talks had failed.
The White House hailed the agreement as “a victory for peace and humanity,” with Trump declaring it “a new dawn for the Middle East.” Yet many observers remain sceptical, noting that enforcement, not signing, is the real test of the accord.
Hamas’s Tactical Concession
Hamas’s decision to accept the truce has been described as an act of strategic pragmatism. Despite massive human and infrastructural losses, the movement’s command structure remains largely intact. The inclusion of a substantial prisoner release, international aid access, and phased Israeli withdrawal are being viewed as symbolic, and psychological, victories within Gaza.
“By agreeing to most of the conditions, Hamas has placed the burden of credibility on Israel. If Israel breaches the truce, the international backlash will be swift. This is diplomacy disguised as defiance.”
The ceasefire also allows Hamas to regroup politically while claiming moral high ground after years of isolation. For many Gazans, it represents a painful but necessary pause in suffering.
Win-Win-Situation
By making no mention of Israeli war crimes and the unprecedented deaths and destruction it has caused and inflicting of hunger and thirst as a weapon and 7th October 2023 attack by Hamas as well, the Agreement seems to bring both the parties to a win-win like situation. Even though it does not meet any requisites of justice, but a pause and a bit of peace is likely to emerge.
UN Sidestepped, Regional Powers Rise
One of the most striking aspects of this truce is the near-total exclusion of the United Nations. For decades, the UN has been the principal forum for mediating in the conflict. But this time, regional and bilateral diplomacy led by Washington, Cairo, and Doha has eclipsed the UN’s role.
“The sidelining of the UN is a reflection of changing geopolitical realities, regional players are asserting control, and global institutions are struggling to remain relevant.
A Cautious Calm Returns to Gaza
As of this week, Israeli forces have begun withdrawing from key areas of Gaza, and aid convoys are about to cross the Rafah border in large numbers and civilians are cautiously emerging from shelters after months of bombardment.
Still, scepticism remains widespread. Israel’s history of violating past ceasefires casts a long shadow over this truce. “We welcome the pause,” said a Hamas spokesperson in Gaza City, “but we are not naïve. True peace will depend on Israel’s actions, not its promises.”
For now, Gaza breathes a fragile sigh of relief – a brief interlude in a long, bitter struggle. Whether this moment of calm evolves into lasting peace remains uncertain, but after two years of devastation, even a fleeting silence feels like hope.
As of this date the Israel army has already withdrawn from the agreed lines in Gaza, and by next week the exchange of prisoners is likely to be effective, further withdrawal of Israelis from Gaza and inflow of international relief material to the Gazan victims should not be doubtful. The level of guarantee given by American president, endorsement by several other mediating countries, and internationally acclamation Israel is cornered and any kind of betrayal from it is next to difficult.
Hamas and its supporters consider this deal as a cautious optimism.