After 15 months of devastating conflict, Israel and Hamas have reached a ceasefire agreement in Gaza, a truce shaped by the efforts of two successive US administrations. The deal, initially proposed by Joe Biden in May 2024, was rejected at the time due to significant disagreements between the parties. However, the looming inauguration of Donald Trump and his direct intervention in the
negotiations altered the dynamics.

Donald Trump played a decisive role by exerting significant pressure on all involved. He reportedly threatened Hamas with severe retaliation if they refused the agreement and insisted that the deal be finalised before his inauguration. His special envoy to the Middle East, Steve Witkoff, was also heavily involved in the talks, further reinforcing the United States' influence over the process.

For Benjamin Netanyahu, approving the agreement became a strategic necessity, despite his earlier promises to eradicate Hamas. With the Israeli military suffering daily casualties in Gaza and mounting pressure from Washington, the Israeli Prime Minister seized the opportunity to use the US presidential transition as justification to his electorate.

Although Trump has claimed credit for the deal, its implementation remains uncertain, as deep tensions and internal opposition persist on both sides. Only time will reveal whether this fragile truce can endure or if it will become another fleeting moment in the region’s history of conflict.