The weight of the success of the deal this time had objective foundations—President Trump's determination to complete it, Netanyahu's approval, and Hamas’ acceptance with some amendments to its terms.
It is expected that President Trump will announce the deal’s success during his meeting with Netanyahu. However, since nothing related to Gaza is proceeding smoothly, last-minute maneuvers may undermine the optimistic expectations. As things stand, the situation may result in a negative surprise.
The spotlight has shifted to Hamas after it took time to respond—demonstrating that it was not eager to rush the deal and that it was capable of modifying it, as if it would be finalized on its terms. Israel rejected Hamas’ amendments and responded by emphasizing that any negotiations it joins will occur under fire. Netanyahu reassured his allies that his war goals remain unchanged: to eliminate Hamas from Gaza and to disarm the Strip, alongside the long-standing objective of recovering all detainees—alive or dead.
The prospects for finalizing the deal still exist, though last-minute maneuvers could produce surprises that return matters to square one. Netanyahu—often the man of surprises—satisfied President Trump by approving the US-Qatari proposal, yet could use Hamas’ amendments to blame them for derailing the deal, thereby securing Trump’s backing to continue the war.
The question remains: To what extent can Hamas’ amendments be considered merely a maneuver to improve its image, rather than a genuine condition for passing or blocking the deal?
We do not have an answer to that. But caution remains vital in these final hours of finalizing and implementing the deal. It should always be remembered that Netanyahu only agreed to the deal to satisfy President Trump—and if he finds an excuse to backtrack, he will not hesitate to use it.
Every day the deal is not concluded or implemented on the ground works in Netanyahu’s favor and benefits his coalition, which continues to prioritize the option of war above all others.
Yousef Ramadan is Ambassador of Palestine to Bangladesh
