Trump’s peace plan is just about holding together, but may be unravelled by two unresolved issues | Rajan Menon

Gaza's fragile ceasefire: A delicate balance between holding together and unraveling.

Two years into the historic peace deal brokered by US President Donald Trump, the Gaza Strip has finally experienced a brief respite from two decades of brutal conflict. The Israeli government and Hamas have signed off on 20 key points aimed at bringing an end to hostilities and laying the groundwork for a lasting peace. As these developments take shape – including the release of hostages, prisoner exchanges, and Israel's initial pullback from Gaza – it is easy to overlook the unresolved issues that could undermine the fragile truce.

At the heart of this paradox lies Israel's withdrawal from Gaza. The terms of the agreement dictate that Israel will reduce its military presence in the territory by a significant margin over time. However, the specifics of these withdrawals remain shrouded in uncertainty. With Israel retaining control of more than half of Gaza, including the Philadelphi corridor adjacent to Egypt, Hamas's demands for unconditional withdrawal are still far from being met.

The omission of critical details regarding the pace and extent of future IDF disengagements raises significant concerns about the plan's long-term viability. Disputes over these issues could prove disastrous for the fragile ceasefire, which has already been tested by disagreements over the return of Israeli hostages.

One cannot discount the historical context in which this agreement was forged. Trump's administration enlisted pressure from regional actors such as Egypt, Turkey, and Qatar to secure Hamas's cooperation. This came at a cost to Hamas's original demands for unconditional withdrawal. The recent experience of Israel ignoring Trump's appeal to halt its bombing campaign in Gaza only serves to underscore the delicate balance between holding together and unraveling.

The international stabilisation force (ISF) established under the plan offers little clarity on how it will be implemented, who will provide troops, or how it will handle potential security threats. The lack of transparency surrounding these issues leaves room for doubt about whether Israel can ever truly relinquish its military presence in Gaza.

As the world breathes a sigh of relief at the ceasefire's fragile stability, it is essential to examine the deeper issues that may yet undermine this hard-won peace. The fate of Gaza hangs precariously in the balance, awaiting the uncertain twists and turns of diplomacy as the Trump plan teeters on the edge of collapse.

I'm so done with all this peace talk . Like, when is Israel ever gonna give up its control over Gaza for good? The fact that they get to keep half the territory is a major problem right off the bat. And what's with the "delicate balance" everyone's talking about? Just say it like it is: the US and other countries are trying to ram this deal down Hamas' throat, and it's not gonna work out.

And don't even get me started on the international stabilisation force . Who's really behind this thing? Is it just a bunch of empty promises or what? It feels like Israel is just playing us all for fools, waiting for everyone to forget about the real issues at hand.

I mean, two years in and already there are signs of trouble brewing . The hostages get released, but then what? The prisoner exchanges happen, but so does more violence from Hamas? It's a never-ending cycle of tension and retaliation. And we're just supposed to sit back and watch it all unfold like some kind of gruesome reality TV show? No thanks .

I'm so tired of all these fragile ceasefire things... it's like we're stuck in some kind of Groundhog Day . Remember when Y2K was a big deal? I mean, who actually thought we'd still be dealing with Middle East conflicts two decades later? It's just mind-boggling.

And can we talk about how unclear everything is right now? The whole thing feels like a Band-Aid solution... it might keep the bleeding temporarily under control, but what's really being addressed? I mean, Israel's still got a stranglehold on Gaza, and Hamas' demands for unconditional withdrawal are basically being ignored .

I'm all for people trying to find peace in the Middle East, but it feels like we're just kicking the can down the road. What about actually holding folks accountable? Where's the transparency? Who's gonna make sure this thing sticks? It's all so... uncertain .

You know what they say: "the devil is in the details"... and boy, are those details a mess . I just hope we don't end up right back where we started, because that would be a total bummer .

lol what's going on with gaza?? i feel like we're just getting to know them again after all these years still dont get why israel cant just give up some space tho? its been two yrs since trump brokered this peace deal and urgs egypt, turkey, qatar etc to get hamas on board... meanwhile israel's still got control of like half the territory and now they're trying to backtrack? sounds like they want to keep things unstable to me dont wanna be a armchair expert but it seems to me that israel's gotta make some serious compromises if this ceasefire is gonna stick... or else it'll all just unravel

idk how long this ceasefire will last ... seems like alot of things are still up in the air . Israel's not really giving up control of gaza completely which is a major issue . and what about those hostage releases? they gotta be more than just token gestures . and who's gonna foot the bill for this international stabilisation force ? it all feels so uncertain ...

Ugh I'm so worried about Gaza . This ceasefire is like a thin thread that can snap at any moment. The fact that Israel's still got control over half the territory is, like, super unfair. They're supposed to be pulling out, but when's it gonna happen? And what about the international stabilisation force? Who's even leading this thing and how are they gonna keep everyone safe? It feels like the plan was made in a vacuum without considering the actual problems on the ground .

I get that Trump brokered this deal, but it seems like he just handed Hamas some concessions to shut them up . The history of this conflict is so complex, and now we're stuck with a fragile truce that might not even last. It's all so frustrating . Can't we just see some real progress on this front?

Ugh I'm so worried about the future of Gaza this ceasefire is just a temporary fix, it's like putting a bandaid on a bullet wound... what about the long-term security concerns? Israel's still got its fingers deep in Gaza, it's not going to let go without a fight and what about Hamas' demands for unconditional withdrawal? It's like they're being asked to give up too much, too fast and don't even get me started on the international stabilisation force... who's gonna be in charge of that, and how are they gonna make it work? this is all so unpredictable...

I'm getting really worried about Israel's withdrawal from Gaza . They're still keeping control of half the territory... that just doesn't feel right to me. I mean, Hamas is asking for unconditional withdrawal and it's not like they're being unreasonable considering what happened in the past . And now there are all these unclear details about future disengagements... it's like Israel is just stringing them along . I wish they'd be more transparent about this whole thing. The international stabilisation force sounds like a load of nonsense too... who's going to provide troops and what if security threats arise? It's all so uncertain right now . Can't we just get some clarity on this?

Man I'm still trying to wrap my head around this whole situation... it's like Israel is holding onto Gaza with one hand while trying to let go with the other . The truce may be holding for now, but what happens when the dust settles? Will Hamas really get the unconditional withdrawal they're demanding, or will Israel just keep finding ways to justify its presence? It's like they're playing a game of whack-a-mole, where every time they think they've made progress, another issue pops up . And don't even get me started on the international stabilisation force... it sounds like just another Band-Aid on a much deeper wound . I mean, what's the real plan here? How are we supposed to know that this ceasefire is anything more than just a temporary reprieve from the inevitable conflict? It's like we're all just living in a state of suspended animation, waiting for the other shoe to drop . What if I told you I've been thinking about this a lot and it's got me feeling kinda anxious...

I'm not sure if this ceasefire will really hold together. Like, Israel's pulling back from Gaza but still keeping control over a lot of it? That sounds like a recipe for disaster . And what about all these hostages that are supposed to be released? It feels like there's a lot of room for things to go wrong . The fact that the US was involved in getting this deal done makes me nervous too - what were they really trying to achieve here?

I'm still trying to wrap my head around this whole situation ... Like, I get that it's been a really tough spot for Gazans and Israelis alike, but can we talk about how unpredictable this whole ceasefire thing is? It feels like one step forward, two steps back - Israel's pulling out, but what does that even mean if they're not being clear about their plans? And I'm so confused about the international stabilisation force... who's in charge of it and how will it actually work? It's like we're just winging it here and hoping for the best . But at the same time, I guess that's what makes this whole situation so complicated. Can't wait to see how it all plays out

THECEASEFIREINGAZA IS A DELICATE BALANCE BETWEEN HOLDING TOGETHER AND UNRAVELING it's like a game of Jenga where one wrong move could make it all come crashing down! israel's withdrawal from gaza needs more clarity and specifics if we wanna believe this peace deal will last long-term. i mean, who knows what'll happen to the philadelphi corridor? israel retaining control over half of gaza is just not fair and those hostages gotta be released ASAP! dis is one tough road ahead for diplomacy

I THINK THE MOST PRESSING ISSUE HERE IS THAT ISRAEL'S WITHDRAWAL PLAN STILL LACKS CRUCIAL DETAILS ! IT'S LIKE THEY'RE JUST DUSTING OFF THEIR TOES AND PREPARING TO FOLD UP SHOP IN GAZA AGAIN . HAMAS NEEDS CONCRETE ANSWERS ON WHEN THEY'LL BE ABLE TO TAKE CONTROL OF THE PHILADELPHI CORRIDOR, AND HOW MUCH TROOPS WILL IT TAKE FOR ISRAEL TO COMPLETE THEIR PULLBACK . WE CAN'T JUST SIT AROUND WAITING FOR DISASTERS TO HAPPEN - WE NEED TO GET A CLEAR PLAN IN PLACE ASAP !

I'm getting a bad vibe from this whole deal... It's like Israel's trying to have its cake and eat it too - they want a peaceful ceasefire but still want to keep their finger on the pulse in Gaza. And what's up with all these unclear details? The withdrawal plan is as shaky as a leaf on a windy day... It's only a matter of time before things start unraveling. And don't even get me started on the international stabilisation force - sounds like a bunch of hot air to me . We need clarity, not ambiguity. The fragile ceasefire may hold for now, but I'm keeping my fingers crossed that it doesn't all come crashing down in the end...

I'm really hoping this ceasefire thing holds together . I mean, it's been two years since the US brokered that historic peace deal, and finally we're seeing some progress. But let's be real, there are still so many unanswered questions. Like, how much control is Israel gonna keep over Gaza? It's like they're just pulling back a little at a time, but not really making any concrete moves to withdraw. And what about the prisoners and hostages? Are they gonna get released as promised? The international stabilisation force sounds like a fancy way of saying "we don't know how this is gonna work". I'm all for trying to find peace in the Middle East , but we need to be realistic about the challenges ahead.

idk about dis ceasefire

gaza's situation is super volatile atm - like, 2 yrs into peace deal but still unresolved issues .rael's withdrawl from gaza is a big part of it - they gotta reduce military presence but specifics are unclear . hamas demands unconditional withdrawl but rael retains control of half the territory . that's not gonna hold together for long

trump's admin pulled some strings to get hamas on board , but it came at a cost . now we got an international stabilisation force but nobody knows how it'll work or who's gonna provide troops . rael can't just abandon gaza security

what i'm tryin to say is - ceasefire might hold for a bit but if we don't address these deep-seated issues , it's all gonna come crashin down .

anyway let's take a look at the stats:

80% of gaza residents live below poverty line
$10B in reconstruction costs for gaza (so far)
Israel's military presence in gaza still controls >50% of territory
International stabilisation force lacks clarity on implementation

chart time!
2yr ceasefire: +200k ceasefire-related deaths (-mostly civilian)
1 yr since truce: -25% Gaza unemployment rate (still high tho )
Israeli bombs dropped in gaza: +50% (yikes, that's a lot of boom )

let me know what you think

I think its a bit too ambitious for Israel to withdraw all their military presence from Gaza completely. I mean, they still control like half the territory already, so it feels like they're trying to keep some strings attached . And what's with the ISF? How are they gonna make that work without just more international involvement which could throw a spanner in the works?

It's also weird that Trump basically pushed Hamas into agreeing to this deal, and now they're saying its too conditional for their liking. Like, you can't expect everything to be handed on a silver platter right off the bat . The thing is, both Israel and Hamas have valid concerns - but are they gonna listen to each other?

It's all so delicate right now... if one side makes a wrong move, it could all fall apart . I'm not sure how much longer this ceasefire can hold together

I'm worried about this whole thing ... so it seems like Israel is supposed to leave Gaza but they're not telling us exactly when or how much they'll leave . That's a big problem because Hamas wants them to just go, you know? But Israel says no way, we need to stay for security reasons . And now that there's this ceasefire, if things don't work out, it could all fall apart . I don't get why they can't just be more transparent about their plans ... seems like a lot of people are counting on this peace deal to work but I'm not so sure

omg i'm still hoping for a real lasting peace in gaza it's amazing how far we've come with this historic deal, but you're totally right to point out all these unresolved issues like, what's up with israel not being clear on their withdrawal plan? and the international stabilisation force (isf) sounds super vague lol, who's gonna provide troops and how will it handle security threats? we need more transparency on this one ASAP! let's keep the positivity going and support a stronger ceasefire for gaza

I'm so worried about Gaza ... it's like they're playing with fire here. Two years in, and already people are getting restless . What's the deal with Israel keeping control of all that land? It just doesn't feel right . I mean, I get that there are unresolved issues and whatnot, but can't we just get some clarity on this whole thing? The pace and extent of future disengagements? What's the hold up?

And don't even get me started on the international stabilisation force (ISF) ... how is that supposed to work again? It's all just a bit too vague for my taste . I mean, who's gonna provide troops? How are they gonna handle security threats? It's just a bunch of unanswered questions .

I guess what really gets me is that the world is breathing a sigh of relief ... but at what cost? The fate of Gaza is still hanging in the balance ️. We can't just sit back and wait for diplomacy to kick in again . We need some real action plans here !