US President Donald Trump's Plan to End the War in Gaza: A Credibility Crisis
The "final version of the first phase" of US President Donald Trump's plan to end the war in Gaza was signed yesterday morning in Egypt by all parties involved, according to Shosh Bedrosian, spokesperson for the Israeli Prime Minister's office, in an online press conference. A ceasefire is expected to come into effect within 24 hours of the agreement's approval by the Israeli security cabinet, which was scheduled to meet yesterday at 3:00 PM (Tunisian time).
Key Points of the Agreement
- The first phase of the plan is now clear: all Israeli hostages, living and dead, will be released within 72 hours of the ceasefire coming into effect, which would be by Monday, according to Bedrosian.
- Within 24 hours of the ceasefire, the Israeli occupation army is expected to withdraw from areas where it is deployed, but will maintain control of 53% of the Gaza Strip territory.
- The Israeli government was also scheduled to meet yesterday afternoon to discuss the details of the agreement, presented by Prime Minister Netanyahu.
A History of Broken Ceasefires
Despite the announcement of a ceasefire, concerns remain about the credibility of the agreement, given the Israeli entity's history of violating truces. The situation in Lebanon is a prime example of Israel's disregard for ceasefire agreements. Despite a ceasefire agreement in place since November 27, 2024, with Hezbollah, the Israeli army continues to occupy six positions in southern Lebanon and carries out daily aggressions against members of the Shia movement and civilians.
UN Reports and Condemnations
The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights reported that at least 103 civilians have been killed between November 2024 and September 2025 in Lebanese territory, calling for an immediate end to hostilities. The Lebanese army has also denounced the ongoing Israeli violations, which it says exceed 4,500 since the ceasefire agreement came into effect.
Israeli Aggressions Continue
The Israeli entity continues to launch airstrikes and drone attacks in southern Lebanon, resulting in over 300 deaths, according to the Lebanese Ministry of Health. In contrast, no deaths have been reported in northern Israel or elsewhere due to rocket fire from Lebanon since the ceasefire came into effect.
Propaganda and Pretexts
The Israeli entity often uses pretexts to justify its violations of the ceasefire, claiming to target Hezbollah fighters and infrastructure. However, the Lebanese army, in collaboration with the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL), is working to dismantle Hezbollah's arsenal along the border, according to a plan presented to the government in early September.
A Lack of Faith in the Ceasefire
Given the Israeli entity's history of violating ceasefire agreements, it is difficult to have faith in the current agreement. The fact that the mediator (the Trump administration) is also an ally of the Israeli entity raises concerns about the possibility of a solid and lasting truce in the Palestinian enclave. The Israeli government's track record of aggression and supremacism towards the Palestinian people only adds to the skepticism.
