I worked on a Gaza peace plan with Blair last year. Let's see if Trump can make it work

Finally, the president has embraced a plan sketched out during Biden’s time in office

- James Rubin

The first phase of a Gaza peace will, in the coming days, draw all eyes to the region. At a very human level, peace will break out in the Middle East.

From the return of hostages to relief in Gaza; from the release of Palestinian prisoners and the full revelation of the devastation on the ground as the full picture of what Israeli forces have wrought comes into focus, we will gain a clearer understanding of the events of the past two years.

But turning this first phase of ceasefire and hostage release into lasting peace in Gaza will be a monumental diplomatic challenge.

It isn't easy to say this - given all the chaos and damage done by the Trump administration in nine short months - but President Trump has done the right thing by pressuring Israel to agree to end the war on terms far short of the aims of total destruction of Hamas that the prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, has articulated over and over again.