In New Delhi, U.S. foreign‑policy analyst Scott Horton weighed in on President Donald Trump’s announcement that Israel and Hamas had signed the first phase of a peace plan. The deal calls for an end to the Gaza war, a ceasefire and the return of hostages taken in October’s attack.
Horton said the new agreement could be a way for Trump to help Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who has not yet achieved his goal of eradicating Hamas. “The first step is handing over all the hostages in exchange for Israel stepping back,” he told . “Israel still holds most of the leverage, so we’ll see how far they’re willing to pull back.”
The analyst added that the success of the plan will depend on Trump’s firmness in enforcing a ceasefire and making sure Israel follows through. “We’ll see how serious Trump is about demanding a real pause,” Horton said. “If he doesn’t mean it, it’s a bare attempt.”
According to Horton, the deal is a lifeline for Netanyahu. “Trump might be saying to Israel: you’re not getting anywhere if you keep fighting,” he said. “You might as well stop because the war won’t change the situation.”
Horton also warned that the ceasefire could be short‑lived. “This 12‑day war may just be an intermission,” he said, pointing out that President Trump’s hard line on Iran’s nuclear program could spark a second major conflict between Iran and Israel. He noted Trump’s disregard for intelligence that says Iran’s civilian nuclear program does not amount to weapons production.
“Trump is ignoring what intelligence says and is following Israel’s definition of a nuclear program as a threat,” Horton said. “That approach raises the risk of a new showdown.”
The remarks come after the Trump administration highlighted the demand that Hamas would release all hostages as part of the ceasefire, a demand that has drawn criticism from the international community for heightening tensions in the region.
Source: aninews
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