US might dragged Netanyahu to the table. The real prize for Trump would be keeping him there | Jonathan Freedland

"After so many images of death and devastation, what sweet relief to see pictures of joy. On the world's TV news broadcasts, the screen was split on Thursday: celebrations in Gaza and celebrations in Israel, the scenes of cheering and clapping mirroring each other, as if to confirm that this was a war the peoples themselves wanted over long ago and which most never wanted to begin."

"The images were not unfamiliar. We had seen a version of them in January, when a ceasefire was announced to great jubilation. That held only until mid-March, when Israel broke the agreement and resumed its bombardment of Gaza, an experience that should temper, and caveat, the current hope with the knowledge that things can unravel at any moment. Still, this time, even the region's most seasoned pessimists concede, the deal looks more durable."

"And Donald Trump ensured that those states with leverage over Hamas Qatar, Turkey and Egypt pushed the organisation to say yes. (He did that using tools uniquely held by the US, agreeing, for example, a defence pact with Qatar that gives the Gulf state Nato-level protection.) Even so, and despite the best efforts of Benjamin Netanyahu's advocates to suggest otherwise, Hamas was not forced to make a major shift in its stance. Trump's 20-point plan might call for the group to hand over its weapons, but Hamas has made no commitment on that and there is no mention of it in the current, fairly narrow ceasefire agreement billed as the first phase of the deal."

Celebratory scenes erupted simultaneously in Gaza and Israel after a new ceasefire, recalling an earlier, fragile January pause. The January truce collapsed in March when Israel resumed bombardment, underscoring how quickly hopes can reverse. The current deal appears more durable because Hamas is weakened, Iran's influence has lessened, and regional mediators were pressured into cooperation. American leverage, including a defence pact with Qatar, played a decisive role in securing mediator pressure. Hamas has not committed to surrender its weapons, and the ceasefire focuses on phased steps like prisoner exchanges and hostage releases, leaving major issues unresolved.

Read at www.theguardian.com