🇺🇸 Trump’s Bold Push for Middle East Peace Meets Reality
President Donald Trump’s ambitious Gaza peace framework—designed to restore stability and protect Israel from terrorist attacks—is now under pressure as Hamas refuses to surrender its weapons.
Security experts warn the militant group is exploiting the cease-fire to regroup, threatening to undo Trump’s hard-won progress in the Middle East.
Dr. Michael Milshtein, head of the Moshe Dayan Forum at Tel Aviv University and one of Israel’s top Hamas analysts, told Fox News Digital that any plan expecting Hamas to simply disappear “misunderstands its nature.”
“Forget words like peace and coexistence — that won’t happen,” Milshtein said. “Hamas is prepared to let a symbolic Palestinian administration handle daily affairs, but it will still rule Gaza from the shadows—just like Hezbollah in Lebanon.”
Milshtein revealed that Hamas’ willingness to “freeze” weapons rather than destroy them shows its real goal: survival.
“They’ll hand over a few rockets but keep guns, explosives, and power. The war may pause—but Hamas stays.”
⚔️ Arab Leaders Split as Trump Presses for Action
Arab diplomats familiar with the peace talks say Hamas may only agree to partial disarmament if guaranteed that Israel will not resume operations against its leadership. Even then, the second phase of the Trump Plan would be extremely difficult.
Ghaith al-Omari of the Washington Institute credited President Trump’s leadership for achieving unprecedented coordination between Israel and Arab states.
“Trump has incredible instincts for timing and opportunity,” he said. “He recognized a moment of crisis and seized it.”
Recent attacks on Qatari soil and fears of wider instability prompted Gulf nations to back Trump’s initiative. Turkey, a key player hosting Hamas leaders, quickly joined the talks.
“Ankara saw the writing on the wall,” al-Omari explained. “They used their influence over Hamas to push it toward political—not military—power. They’re saying, ‘Do what we did—put down the weapons and work within a system.’”
But al-Omari warned this strategy may allow Hamas to “play the long game—step back now, survive politically, and wait for the Palestinian Authority to weaken.”
⚠️ Growing Cracks in Arab Unity
Early signs of division are already appearing. Egypt’s foreign minister recently said that disarming Hamas is an “internal issue,” while the UAE signaled it would only send troops to the Rafah border—not into Gaza itself.
“That kind of slippage is dangerous,” al-Omari said. “If Hamas keeps its guns, we could see violence return within weeks.”
Mark Dubowitz, CEO of the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, agreed that a cease-fire isn’t the same as peace.
“A truce is just a pause,” he said. “There will be peace only when Hamas is dismantled and the Trump Peace Plan is fully executed.”
Dubowitz said Hamas will never surrender voluntarily:
“They must be removed—by force if necessary. Otherwise, we’ll see the same cycle of terror repeat again.”
🕊️ Israel’s Path Forward: Strength and Vigilance
Former Israeli intelligence chief Tamir Heiman outlined three possible outcomes once the current fighting subsides.
- Best Case: Hamas cooperates and allows a neutral technocratic government backed by international peacekeepers.
- Limited Option: If Hamas resists, Israel may transfer partial control to a multinational force in small sectors.
- Most Likely Scenario: Israel keeps a “security buffer” inside Gaza—similar to southern Lebanon—to prevent future attacks.
“It’s not perfect,” Heiman said. “But it’s managed security, not chaos.”
🌍 Trump’s Legacy and the Road Ahead
President Trump’s peace initiative has united unlikely allies—from the Gulf to Ankara to Jerusalem—in pursuit of stability. But experts agree that the ultimate test will be enforcing Hamas’ full disarmament and rebuilding Gaza without empowering terrorists.
If Hamas remains armed and entrenched, they warn, this so-called “peace” will become just another pause between wars—an intermission before the next wave of violence.
“Trump’s plan is the boldest Middle East initiative in decades,” said one senior Israeli analyst. “But for it to succeed, the world must stand firm. Peace without disarmament is just illusion.”
