The War is Over: Trump Heads to Middle East for Peace Push

Before departing for Israel, US President Donald Trump made a statement, heralding the end of the two-year war in the Gaza Strip: "The war is over. Okay? Do you understand that?" This is how the president clarified his position, answering a journalist's question aboard the presidential aircraft "Air Force One." This mission of Trump is seen as his personal victory for brokering a ceasefire and hostage release deal after months of complex negotiations. The president's optimism is based on numerous verbal promises and guarantees he has received from all sides of the conflict. "I have received many verbal promises, and I believe in them," Trump noted, adding that the parties are "tired" of the centuries-old conflict and will not want to disappoint him. His confidence extends not only to maintaining the ceasefire but also to the implementation of subsequent steps. Trump highly praised the mediation efforts of Qatar and Turkey, emphasizing that they deserve trust for successfully advancing this complex process.

Against the backdrop of these groundbreaking statements, Trump's visit to the Middle East has begun, which has two main destinations: Israel and Egypt. In Israel, his speech at the Knesset is planned, which will make him the fourth US president to address the Israeli parliament. The visit's agenda also includes meetings with the families of the hostages. The head of the White House is accompanied on this visit by a high-ranking delegation, which includes Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth. After a short visit to Israel, Trump will travel to Egypt, where he will co-host a summit of more than 20 world leaders with President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi. The goal of this summit is to consolidate international support around his plan to end the Gaza war and establish a stable peace in the Middle East.

At the core of Trump's peace plan is the reconstruction and future governance of Gaza. He stated that Gaza has now been reduced to ruins, resembling a "demolition site," but at the same time assured that "everything will be fine." For this purpose, he has ordered the immediate creation of a "Peace Council" to oversee the region's reconstruction. This body, which will be chaired by Trump himself, is intended to become the main structure of transitional governance. The Council's powers will include overseeing the phased withdrawal of Israeli troops, guaranteeing the unhindered supply of humanitarian aid, and coordinating large-scale reconstruction work. The program, which consists of 20 points, aims to stabilize the situation and prevent any forced demographic changes.

Despite the general optimistic mood, there are also certain challenges on the path to implementing the peace plan. One of them is related to the composition of the "Peace Council." Specifically, former British Prime Minister Tony Blair has been nominated as a candidate for a member of the council. However, Trump, demonstrating political caution, expressed doubt as to whether Blair "would be an acceptable choice for everyone," considering his role in the Iraq War. "I've always liked Tony, but I want to make sure he will be acceptable to everyone," Trump said, showing that he understands the importance of finding a candidate acceptable to all parties so as not to jeopardize the success of the process.