FLASH
Shkruar nga PamfletiThe diplomacy of the past 12 hours has been dizzying and uniquely Trumpian. This is a consequence of his unorthodox style, his ability to make decisions and, most importantly, his willingness to do so now.
We are at the end of the game. Almost exactly two years since the Hamas attacks on October 7, 2023, it seems as if we are on the verge of a breakthrough.
The diplomacy of the past 12 hours has been dizzying and uniquely Trumpian. Assuming everything holds up, this is Donald Trump's success. It is a consequence of his unorthodox style, his ability to make decisions and, most importantly, his willingness to do so now.
The tragedy is that this could have happened many months ago. But that doesn't make it any less important now.
News came from Hamas late Friday afternoon Washington time that the group had responded to Mr. Trump's 20-point plan for peace in Gaza, which he unveiled at the White House on Monday.
Within minutes, the US president had posted Hamas' response on his social media. It was clear from the wording of Hamas' statement that it was not at all a clear acceptance of the 20-point plan.
But then, via his press secretary, again on social media, a clear indication that the US president was reading Hamas' statement as an acceptance of his agreement even though, in black and white, it fails to achieve that.
"President Trump responds to Hamas' acceptance of his Peace Plan," wrote Caroline Leavitt.
Hamas had essentially said “yes, but” to Mr. Trump’s 20-point plan, yet, strangely, Mr. Trump was choosing to take it as an acceptance of his plan.
Then, moments later, the president expressed it, again on social media, and with game-changing demands, not for Hamas, but for Israel.
An extraordinary statement
"Based on the Statement just released by Hamas, I believe they are ready for a lasting PEACE. Israel must immediately stop the bombing of Gaza so that we can get the hostages out safely and quickly! Right now, it is too dangerous to do so. We are already in discussions on the details that need to be worked out. This is not just about Gaza, it is about the long-awaited PEACE in the Middle East."
This was an extraordinary statement and represents a major moment. Neither Trump, nor Joe Biden before him, have ever asked Israel to do this before. The American president was telling Israel to stop; to reduce its military and to end this war.
Extraordinary.
For the first time in this two-year war, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is in a safe corner. President Trump has put him in that position.
Trump and his team know that Hamas’ response is not yet committed to disarmament and not yet agreed to a full disarmament, both conditions of the 20-point plan. But Hamas is committed to releasing all hostages now. And for Trump, who wants this to end, that’s enough.
The word from Israel overnight is that Netanyahu did not expect the US president to take this stance because he sees Hamas' response as a rejection of the 20-point plan.
On Monday, Netanyahu said that Mr. Trump was the best friend Israel had ever had. But Mr. Trump is not an ideologue. He is a pragmatist, he is a deal-maker, he wants to advance his Abraham Accords, he wants to be a winner and he wants the Nobel Peace Prize.
He can also see where the strengths are falling. His 20-point plan has unanimous support across Europe and among Muslim-majority countries, all of which seem to accept that Hamas as an organization is finished.
Israeli attack on Hamas in Qatar was a turning point
Public opinion is also a factor. The number of Americans with an unfavorable view of Israel and its policy in Gaza has been steadily increasing.
President Trump’s own view of Mr. Netanyahu’s Israel has also evolved. The two men have never been close. And the Israeli attack on Hamas negotiators in Qatar last month really angered Mr. Trump and his advisers. They saw it as a clear undermining of the Gaza negotiations. It was a turning point for Mr. Trump.
Behind-the-scenes diplomacy, through Qatari government intermediaries and others, has been intense, especially in the past week. The challenge has been to convince Hamas' military wing in Gaza to come to terms with the position set out in their statement.
Mr. Trump's Middle East envoy, Steve Witkoff, told me on Monday: "I'm hopeful, I really am. All the stakeholders in this want to see it happen and the president believes it will happen and is committed."
I was skeptical. Maybe I was wrong to be. However, there are major immediate challenges in the hours and days ahead.
But the news that came overnight that the Israel Defense Forces have shifted to defensive operations is a major development.
There is a real momentum for peace now. This could be the right moment./ Adapted from Sky News, Pamphlet
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