President Donald Trump is launching a whirlwind diplomatic tour of the Middle East, betting that a narrow window of opportunity has opened to fundamentally realign the region. His trip to Israel and Egypt is not just to mark a ceasefire, but to kickstart a process he believes could lead to a lasting peace and an expansion of the Abraham Accords.
The mission’s urgency is underscored by the fragility of the deal itself. The initial 72-hour period for Hamas to release hostages after an Israeli pullback is a critical test. Trump’s presence on the ground is intended to provide the political weight needed to ensure this first phase is implemented smoothly, with the hostage return expected as early as Monday or Tuesday.
The centerpiece of his visit will be a major summit in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt, where he and President el-Sissi will convene leaders from over 20 nations. The agenda is twofold: first, to solidify the Gaza truce by addressing thorny issues like post-war governance; second, to pivot the conversation towards a broader regional peace, with a focus on normalizing relations between Israel and states like Saudi Arabia.
This ambitious strategy is driven by the Trump administration’s belief that shared concerns over Iranian influence have created common ground between Israel and its Arab neighbors. By supporting Israel’s efforts to weaken Iranian proxies like Hamas and Hezbollah, the White House contends it has built credibility and momentum for a new regional security architecture.
However, deep-seated obstacles remain, chief among them the unresolved Israeli-Palestinian conflict and skepticism about Hamas’s willingness to disarm. Trump’s sprint through the Mideast is a high-stakes gamble that his personal brand of diplomacy can convert a tenuous ceasefire into a transformative and durable peace.