When U.S. President Donald Trump departed the Middle East on Monday, he called it “the most important day for peace in a hundred years.”
But on the ground, Palestinians returning to the ruins of Gaza say peace still feels distant.
After two years of relentless bombardment and blockade, the guns have fallen silent, and hostages have been freed under a fragile ceasefire.
Trump hailed the truce as the start of a “New Middle East” and officially branded his vision “Peace 2025.”
Yet, questions over Palestinian statehood, Israeli withdrawal, and justice for war victims remain unresolved.
A Declaration of Peace — or Pause in War?
In a lengthy speech to the Israeli Knesset, Trump praised Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for “having the guts to end the war.”
But within hours, Netanyahu contradicted him, insisting Israel’s military campaign “wasn’t over.”
While Trump celebrated victory, Israel’s far-right coalition demanded continued action against Hamas, calling the ceasefire a “temporary break.”
For many Palestinians, the contrast between Trump’s words and their daily reality could not be starker.
“Trump says peace — but we see only rubble,” said a Gazan aid worker via phone.
“Our homes are gone, our children are gone. What kind of peace is this?”
The Promise and the Price
Trump’s “Peace 2025” plan envisions a demilitarized Palestinian state after a transition in Gaza, overseen by a technocratic council approved by Israel and monitored by international powers.
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the goal is not just to restore Gaza but to “transform the entire region.”
But critics say the plan leaves Palestinians with little say in their own future.
Arab governments, including Saudi Arabia and Qatar, have demanded that any long-term deal must guarantee Palestinian sovereignty and an end to Israel’s occupation.
“We are ready to rebuild Gaza,” one Arab diplomat said, “but not to rebuild it for another war.”
Trump’s Legacy and Unanswered Questions
In Jerusalem, Trump showered Netanyahu with praise — even joking that he should be pardoned in his corruption trial.
“Cigars and champagne — who the hell cares?” he laughed, drawing smiles but raising eyebrows.
Behind the scenes, envoys Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff have already started shaping the next phase — one that could decide whether Gaza sees true freedom or just a new form of control.
For now, Trump insists the war is over.
But across Gaza, families digging through debris say their struggle is not.
“We have peace only when we have a home,” said a man standing by the wreckage of his neighborhood.
Trump calls it Peace 2025.
For Palestinians, it may still be Peace Deferred.
