Israel Hayom has learned that under the American plan, which Israel is aligning itself with, the meeting will address details of negotiations on the second phase of the deal. At the center of these talks are the disarmament of Hamas and the establishment of alternative governing bodies in Gaza. These include an overseeing body, the "Peace Council," to be headed by Trump, and a civilian governing authority largely composed of Palestinian officials from Gaza.

On Sunday, an Israeli delegation headed by Gal Hirsch, the government's coordinator for hostages and missing persons, traveled to Cairo along with representatives of the Shin Bet security agency and the Mossad. Their goal was to accelerate efforts to locate the body of the last remaining hostage, Ran Gvili. Israel insists it will not move forward to the second phase of the deal until Gvili is returned, and security officials are convinced that Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad possess information on his burial site.

The Turkish issue

During meetings in Cairo, the parties discussed intensifying the search in hopes of finding Gvili before Netanyahu departs for the US. Members of the Gvili family are expected to join the trip. Trump is known to have a warm attitude toward the families of hostages, making their presence at the summit both important and symbolic.

According to diplomatic sources, the joint statement concluding the meeting is expected to include, alongside the Iranian issue, an announcement on progress toward the second phase and the establishment of international institutions for Gaza's rehabilitation, as part of the path toward ending the war. The statement is also expected to meaningfully address the Gvili case, in remarks by both Netanyahu and Trump. The precise wording and any conditions tied to advancing practical steps on the ground have not yet been finalized.

One of the main difficulties in implementing the second phase lies in the failure to assemble a multinational force, due to countries' refusal to deploy troops as long as Hamas remains armed. As a result, most of the initial progress is expected to focus on the civilian track.

According to the sources, at the end of the meeting, or after several meetings, two bodies will be formally announced: the supervising Peace Council, made up of international figures and leaders, and a new civilian governing authority composed largely of Palestinians who previously served as officials in the Palestinian Authority. Israel Hayom has reported that lists of some of these former Palestinian Authority employees have been transferred to Israel for security vetting, to ensure they are not affiliated with Hamas.

This is where the Turkish issue comes into play. Turkey is pressing the US to include its troops in the multinational stabilization force, the International Stabilization Force, and to lift Israel's veto. All the sources contacted by Israel Hayom deny that Israel has agreed to remove its veto. However, it is possible that Turkish military personnel specializing in engineering and mine clearance could be allowed to take part in units focused on those tasks.

The Americans are interested in launching the initiative through an international conference, likely to be held in the US in January, with the participation of the president, Middle Eastern leaders and partner countries. Following that, Israel, the mediators and Hamas are expected to begin discussions on the second phase, which would include the disarmament of Hamas, the transfer of governing authority and a redeployment of the Israel Defense Forces to a new defensive line.

Israel insists that there will be no withdrawal as long as Hamas and other terrorist organizations have not been disarmed and no longer pose a threat. In practice, this means that discussions on transferring civilian control will initially apply only to areas under IDF control, as well as pockets in northern and southern Gaza controlled by clans opposed to Hamas.

The meeting on Monday

Regarding Iran, Israel is expected to present Trump, during their meeting in Florida, with accumulated intelligence and assessments regarding the pace of Iran's military rehabilitation. One of Israel's goals is to secure US recognition that as long as the current regime remains in power, Iran will continue to operate terrorist organizations across the region, fuel conflicts and block what Washington views as the "mega-deal," the broad American plan for the Middle East.

Netanyahu and Trump are expected to discuss the need to confront Iran, with the ultimate objective of significantly weakening Iranian influence in the region and removing the nuclear and missile threats. Israel Hayom reported Sunday that former minister Ron Dermer assisted in preparations for the meeting, particularly on the Iranian issue. Dermer previously oversaw the Iran portfolio and was an architect of the cooperation with the US that led to American support for Israel during the war and its participation in the strike on the Fordow nuclear facility.

Issues related to Lebanon and Syria will also be on the agenda. On Lebanon, the sides are expected to discuss how to proceed with the disarmament of Hezbollah, the terrorist organization, and with civilian negotiations between Israel and the Lebanese government. On Syria, Trump is expected to seek a renewal of security talks with Israel, aimed at reaching an arrangement that would prevent military clashes and meet Israel's security needs.

The Israeli delegation is expected to include acting National Security Council head Gil Reich, who has recently grown closer to Netanyahu; political adviser Ophir Falk; military secretary Maj. Gen. Roman Gofman; and Israel's ambassador to Washington, Yechiel Leiter. Transportation Minister Miri Regev is also expected to join the trip.

The first meeting between Trump and Netanyahu is scheduled for Monday, December 29, followed by a meeting with Secretary of State Marco Rubio. Given the wide range of issues, an additional meeting between Trump and Netanyahu is expected on Tuesday or Wednesday.

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Iranian military officials acknowledged tactical failures during the recent war with Israel while insisting the country's missile capabilities remain largely intact, with a senior Western diplomat stated missile sites may now be relocated deeper into eastern Iran for protection. "If we keep. "We did not think that they would target our commanders and scientists in their own homes along with their families. We miscalculated and admit that we were wrong,"  Mohammad Reza Naghdi, a Revolutionary Guards deputy commander said. Despite strikes that killed dozens of senior commanders, Naghdi claimed "Israel has not destroyed even 3% of our missile launchers," the Financial Times reported.

The Revolutionary Guards recently staged a public weapons exhibition at Tehran's National Aerospace Park, displaying ballistic missiles, hypersonic systems, and attack drones. The display sought to project military strength and reassure citizens following the 12-day war with Israel and the US that exposed significant vulnerabilities. Israeli strikes killed dozens of senior commanders and nuclear scientists, while over 1,000 people died in Iran, according to the Financial Times. Tehran argues its massive missile response forced the conflict to halt.

A 35-year-old accountant named Nasrin stopped before a Sejjil ballistic missile, remembering social media images of the weapon soaring through skies during fighting, the Financial Times reported. "Thanks to these missiles, the US and Israel knelt down before us," she remarked. "Without them, Iran would have become like Gaza."

Last month's presentation formed part of a campaign to convey strength following a war inflicting severe damage on the Islamic republic – and to assure citizens the nation remains combat-ready should necessity arise, according to the Financial Times.

Brigadier General Ali Balali of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, serving as exhibition director, told attendees: "People are seeing these missiles and drones up close, and realise they're locally made weapons to defend the homeland," the Financial Times reported. "Our capabilities place us within the club of nations known for significant missile development."

During months following the 12-day conflict, wherein the US briefly participated before negotiating a ceasefire, numerous Iranians describe existing in a state of "no war, no peace," according to the Financial Times. Iran has prohibited UN inspectors from accessing its most sensitive nuclear installations, which sustained US bombing, and has reached deadlock with Washington over resuming atomic energy program talks, the Financial Times reported. European powers have additionally reimposed sanctions.

These developments have produced mounting anxiety within Iran that renewed combat may prove inevitable rather than hypothetical, according to the Financial Times. "Our missile capability must continue to grow," stated Sara, a 19-year-old psychology student at the aerospace park. "The war could resume at any moment."

Officials insist Iran's military preparedness undergoes swift restoration, the Financial Times reported. Yet the exhibition also represented an attempt to shift public narrative away from vulnerabilities exposed during combat, when Israeli forces eliminated dozens of senior commanders and nuclear scientists in a devastating opening assault. Iranian authorities reported casualties exceeding 1,000.

By launching what it describes as more than 600 missiles in retaliation – the most extensive bombardment Israel has confronted in its history – Tehran argues it compelled the war to cease, the Financial Times reported.

Iranian officials contend the war should be assessed not solely by deaths but by financial costs Israel and the US incurred intercepting relatively inexpensive Iranian munitions and executing long-range aerial operations, including with expensive precision guided missiles, the Financial Times reported.

Shahed drones, utilized by Russia in its Ukraine war, received prominent display, alongside multiple other drones reverse engineered from US and Israeli models Iran captured, the Financial Times reported. Still, the Islamic republic has also sought to address its shortcomings. Domestically-manufactured radar systems failed to prevent Israeli jets and drones from striking Tehran. In recent YouTube interviews with hardline director Javad Mogouei, ministers and military commanders admitted Israeli tactics caught them unprepared.

"We were taken by surprise by the way the enemy operated," stated Mohammad Reza Naghdi, a Revolutionary Guards deputy commander during the war, according to the Financial Times. "We did not think that they would target our commanders and scientists in their own homes along with their families. We miscalculated and admit that we were wrong."

The most embarrassing moment occurred with Hamas political chief Ismail Haniyeh's assassination in Tehran in July 2024, when Iran declined to retaliate against Israel, the Financial Times reported. Officials now acknowledge this reflected not strategic restraint but an uncomfortable reality: Tehran recognized it lacked sufficient capabilities to respond effectively and required time for rebuilding.

Brigadier General Ali Mohammad Naeini, spokesperson for the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, informed Mogouei that Iran had worked to improve the accuracy and effectiveness of its missiles during subsequent months, according to the Financial Times.

"We are working around the clock to reach a new level of readiness," Naeini declared. "Without long-range ballistic missiles, this war would have lasted eight years [like the war with Iraq], not 12 days. It would have taken us a year, not hours, to go on the offensive."

A senior Western diplomat in Tehran stated missile sites may now relocate deeper into eastern Iran – farther from Israeli and American aircraft – for enhanced protection, the Financial Times reported. "If we keep the enemy's targets beyond its access, there won't be another war," Naghdi stated. "Their costs must exceed their achievements."

Western diplomats are also monitoring for indications whether the republic seeks foreign assistance to rebuild its military strength, the Financial Times reported. The critical question, as one expressed it, involves whether nations like Russia, China and Pakistan are offering support to Iran.

For many aerospace park visitors, the conclusion proved evident: Iran's future depended not merely on protecting but strengthening its weapons program, according to the Financial Times. "If we put aside our missile programme, we will be attacked more severely next time," stated Keyvan, a 27-year-old computer engineer. "After the war, we realise more than ever how invaluable these missiles are."

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Former US Ambassador to Israel David Friedman issued a stark warning regarding the shifting political landscape in the United States while forcefully defending Donald Trump's record on Israel, during a wide-ranging discussion at the Israel Hayom Summit on Tuesday. 

Video: David Friedman at the Israel Hayom Summit / Credit: Flowmotion

Speaking with Israel Hayom diplomatic commentator Ariel Kahana, Friedman addressed the erosion of bipartisan support for Israel, the viability of a "Puerto Rico model" for Judea and Samaria.

The "massive" generational problem

Friedman began by pivoting off remarks made earlier by Hillary Clinton regarding generational divides. He argued that focusing solely on political parties misses a deeper demographic shift, illustrating his point with the election of Zohran Mamdani, a socialist state assembly member in New York known for his critical stance on Israel.

"When people think about the election of Zohran Mamdani, they say 30% of Jews voted for him. But they're missing the point," Friedman cautioned. "It's probably 80 or 90% of Jews under 30 who voted for him. Because I don't know anybody my age who voted for him." 

Friedman described this as a "massive, massive generational problem" permeating not just the Jewish community, but Evangelical Christians and the secular community as well. "To think that that doesn't, over the long term, filter into our politics and the leadership of America is just wishful thinking," he said. He said the generation problem is in the Jewish community but also elsewhere. "We have it in the Evangelical Christian community. We have it in the secular community. And to think that that over the long term filter into our politics and the leadership of America is just wishful thinking. So we we have a real problem. And there are lots of solutions we can talk about what they could be, but it's an enormous problem down the road." He stressed: "We have it on the Left, we have it on the Right, and obviously it factors its way into the politics. Any democracy is a function of the will of the people. I didn't hear a solution to it, I'm not aware of a solution to it."

Sovereignty and the "Puerto Rico model"

When asked on the "Deal of the Century"– Friedman argued that the former president is "agnostic" regarding the specific form a solution takes, describing Trump as "the least pro-two-state of any president since 1967."

Friedman brushed off recent UN Security Council resolution supporting a Palestinian state, asking, "Who cares what the United Nations says? They have no... at the end of the day they're not gonna be the decider."

Instead, Friedman outlined a vision for Israeli sovereignty over Judea and Samaria that he believes Trump could support. He proposed that Palestinian areas be modeled after Puerto Rico, granting "local autonomy but no national rights," coupled with economic realignment.

"I don't see any reason why he would be against that in principle," Friedman stated. "I think he would support that in principle."

Regarding the protection of biblical sites, Friedman. "We want to know that 10 years from now... places like Jerusalem, Beit El, Hebron, Shiloh, the wellspring of our Judeo-Christian heritage to be in good hands, that they'll be in good hands," he said. "If Israel is not the sovereign, then they won't be." 

Sending the B-2 bombers

The conversation concluded a question on Trump's controversial meetings with figures like Kanye West and Nick Fuentes, as well as his recent meeting with Mamdani. Friedman urged the audience to judge Trump by his actions rather than his meetings, culminating in the US-Israel military action against Iran. "President Trump is a unique person. And let's judge him on his actions, not on his meetings, not on his words. Because he has a view that he can meet with anybody. He wants to gauge who they are, what they are, take the measure of the person. But his actions are what counts."

"No American president has ever joined Israel in a war against an enemy. None," Friedman noted.

He then described Trump's help in decimating Iran's nuclear program in June: "He joined with Israel in a 12-day war in which he put his entire presidency on the line... And he authorized the flying of those B-2 bombers 37 hours back and forth to thread the needle in Fordo and to destroy the reactor, with Israel guarding the airspace. Nobody ever did that. No one has ever come close to doing something like that before."

Friedman pushed back against the narrative that US aid to Israel was only helping the Jewish state.

"The US military has... spends about 100 billion dollars a year on research and development. Okay? You look at that at the 3.3 billion dollars that it gives to Israel. If you put it in that bucket, it's the best money spent on research and development within this entire 100 million dollar budget... uh, 100 billion dollar budget," Friedman argued.

He cited the F-35 program as the ultimate proof of concept: "The Adir that flies in Israel is the best F-35 in the world. Okay? Who gets that... who gets the benefit of that technology other than Israel? Only America. Right? So if you just want to talk about, you know, a return on investment on research and development in military, it's... it's... it's a great relationship."

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Speaking to a crowded room of dignitaries, including references to the American US Ambassador to the UN Michael Waltz and local leadership, the speaker painted a picture of a relationship that transcends mere politics, describing the bond between the two nations as a "majestic alliance" essential for the survival of Western values.

Video: Dr Miriam Adelson at the summit / Credit: Flowmotion

The speech began with a moment of levity that quickly turned poignant, as Dr. Adelson tested the waters of the current cultural climate by asking if it is "still kosher" to say "Shalom" in the Big Apple, presumably referring to the recent election of Zohran Mamdani as the next mayor of the world's largest Jewish city. 

Video: The Israel Hayom Summit / Credit: Flowmotion

She emphasized that the word "Shalom" meaning peace – represents the eternal aspiration of the Jewish people and the State of Israel, a value shared deeply by the United States but often ignored by their mutual adversaries. "It is the peace that the Jewish people and the State of Israel have always pursued for the good of the entire world – the fact that our enemies refuse to acknowledge," she noted. "It is a tragedy as old as our history.
They insist on portraying us as precisely the opposite, projecting their worst traits upon us is a painful travesty," she pointed out.

Dr. Adelson noted that Jewish history managed to go from the darkness of the Holocaust to the revival of statehood, stressing that "the most significant historical difference for Jews is the rebirth of Israel, its brilliant pioneers, fearless soldiers, and the majestic alliance with the great United States."

Weaving personal history into the geopolitical narrative, Dr. Adelson recounted a journey from a childhood in Israel, having been born in Tel Aviv to parents who had lost their families in Poland, to her post-graduate studies in New York.

"Under the bright Mediterranean sun, they raised me to feel the self-confidence of a sabra. When the time came for me to do post-graduate research abroad, I looked to America … to New York," she said. "For generations, Yiddish speakers would call America, the 'goldene medina', or 'The land of gold' – not just for the economic opportunity, but also for the enlightened lack of persecution.' It was here in New York, the speaker noted, that she met their late husband, philanthropist and businessman Sheldon Adelson, and fused a dual identity as both a proud Israeli and a proud American. 

However, the tone of the address shifted to address the "ugly head" of antisemitism currently rising in New York, the city with the largest Jewish population outside of Israel. She warned that the current wave of hatred is tactically designed to sever the relationship between the two nations. "They want to split Israel off from the West and from Diaspora Jews," Dr. Adelson sounded the alarm, describing anti-Zionism as a cunning mask for traditional hatred. The speaker argued that the goal of these detractors is to destroy the Jewish state through "isolation, separation, defamation, and demoralization."

"From Pharaoh to the Spanish Inquisition, from the pogroms to the Nazi concentration camps, we have survived the worst of them," she noted. Central to Dr. Adelson's message was the evolution of Jewish survival, transitioning from a history of persecution to a present defined by sovereignty and strength, having been scarred by constant danger. "We have learned, the hard way, to be prepared. To defend ourselves. To always stand tall. To draw support through strength – not just sympathy," She noted that the current day Jewish state and its ties to the most powerful nation on earth have transformed Jewish destiny.

Despite these challenges, the message remained one of defiant optimism. Dr. Adelson urged the attendees to draw confidence from the fact that, unlike in previous centuries, the Jewish people now possess a homeland and the capacity for self-defense. The speaker framed the current climate as a "significant test" for the Israel-US relationship, calling on supporters to "fight slander with facts" and to walk "proud and confident through this age of moral confusion." She urged Jews "to rally with one another, even as we are surrounded by hostility."

Concluding the remarks, Dr. Adelson invoked the legacy of past generations as a path toward securing the Jewish future by remembering the powerlessness of the past pale in comparison with the challenges facing the Jewish people today. "We owe it to those past generations of powerless Jews who would have happily traded places with us today. And we owe it to our children, and the generations to follow, to ensure that they, too, can shout out loud "Am Israel Chai!" in defiance and celebration. For we'll survive and thrive."

She concluded with an optimistic note: "May this Israel Hayom Summit be the first of many here in New York – no matter who the mayor is."

Full disclosure: The Adelson family owns the company that is the primary shareholder in Israel Hayom. Dr. Miriam Adelson is the publisher of Israel Hayom.

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In an interview with Israel Hayom, Adams discussed how October 7 shifted his work, the surge in global antisemitism, and Israel's failures in the information war. "I was not in Israel on October 7," he said, and described his reaction upon learning the news as "horror and shock."

Q: Do you donate differently prior to and post October 7?

"I'm not one of those October 8 Jews" who found their reawakening after the attacks. Adams said his commitment to Jewish causes never wavered. "The lion's share has always been to give Jewishly, because if we don't look after ourselves, nobody else is going to look after us. So that didn't change at all."

What did change was where he directed his efforts. Before October 7, Adams organized large-scale international events that attracted hundreds of millions of viewers. But "during a time of war, of course, you can't be doing events to show the good name of Israel abroad."

Instead, Adams pivoted to supporting Israel's south. In 2024, he donated $100 million to Ben-Gurion University to help rebuild the southern cities of Israel after the October 7 Hamas-led attack. He wanted to show evacuated residents "that they have a future in the south" and demonstrate to the world "that we are here to stay."

In 2025, he donated $100 million to Soroka Medical Center to help rebuild the hospital damaged by Iranian missiles. His goal is to create "the most complete, most modern hospital in the entire country and one of the most in the entire region."

Q: ⁠What trends have you seen in North America in relation to antisemitism?

Adams, who travels extensively in his official capacity, expressed shock at the extent of antisemitism that emerged after October 7. "Honestly, I didn't believe it still existed," he said. "The events of October 7 didn't create this antisemitism. They revealed a latent antisemitism that many of us, myself included, didn't realize was lying in wait for us."

He described witnessing "antisemitic behavior that we haven't seen since the 1930s" that is "openly expressed, not sufficiently condemned." In his native Montreal, Adams said extreme Islamists and "their useful idiots" – "leftists, anarchists, whatever you want to call them" – have taken over streets, blocked bridges and roads, and displayed "hideous symbols like swastikas."

The phenomenon spans the political spectrum. When asked about antisemitism coming from both right and left, including figures like Tucker Carlson and Candace Owens, Adams was blunt: "Tucker Carlson, when he was fired from Fox, he wasn't always this virulently anti-Israel and antisemitic... He needed a job. To me, I look at Tucker Carlson as a paid operative."

Adams attributes the coordinated nature of anti-Israel activism to what he calls "the axis of hate" –principally Qatar, with Iranian money and Chinese involvement through TikTok. He pointed to the identical tents that appeared on campuses nationwide: "Somebody was buying those tents. Somebody had organized this... They have operatives everywhere."

Still, Adams believes "the vast majority of people are revolted by this, support the Jewish people, and are not antisemitic." The problem, he said, is "this very, very vocal and noisy, organized and paid-for minority is doing us real harm."

Q: What do you think of the current Israeli hasbara? Is it effective?

Adams stresses Israel must improve its public diplomacy effort. "The Qataris have been at this for 20 years. They started Al-Jazeera about 20 years ago... So we have 20 years to catch up. We are up against a trillion dollars of propaganda and conspiracy against us worldwide," Adams said, which includes "infiltrating western university campuses, paying opinion leaders like Candace Owens and Tucker Carlson, as well as on the left."

When asked about concrete steps Israel can take, Adams acknowledged technological solutions beyond his expertise but emphasized the need to "create content that can reach people at the level that they will consume it" and "use technology as a force multiplier."

"We need to at least fight them to a draw," he said. "And if we keep going in this direction and we lose the youth, we have no future because they are our future leaders."

Adams expressed confidence that Israel can succeed if it makes hasbara a priority: "We're the startup nation. When we have priorities, we win at everything that we do."

The 11th million

At the Ministry of Aliyah and Integration summit in Tel Aviv last month, Adams announced an ambitious goal: bringing more than one million new immigrants to Israel from around the world.

Adams framed the challenge in terms of push and pull factors. "There is a push factor happening with the antisemitism in the Western world," he said, along with "a reawakening of some Jewish sentiment of identity, the 'October 8th syndrome' if you will." But pushing alone is insufficient. "We need the pull factor in Israel, to make it as appealing and attractive as possible, and ensure that they can live full and rich lives, including employment and housing."

Adams said his goal is to lead a campaign similar to what happened with the million immigrants to Israel from the former Soviet Union, "which really changed and improved the country." He believes that one million immigrants "from Western Europe and North America would ensure a pluralistic, democratic Israel for the indefinite future."

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Rather than tweaking various parameters endlessly, travelers describe desires naturally and let the system produce results, Google Flights described. Queries like "week-long trip this winter to a city with great food, nonstop only" or "10 day ski trip to a world-class resort with fresh powder" trigger displays of fitting low prices, including unexpected locations, Google Flights showed.

Advanced AI from Google captures request subtleties, then draws on current Google Flights information for prompt, relevant selections, Google Flights highlighted. Beta rollout begins now to harvest responses and advance AI travel assistance, while traditional Google Flights persists with upgrades such as basic-economy exclusion for domestic North American itineraries, Google Flights mentioned.

Access starts automatically over the following week in the United States, Canada, and India via dedicated page or menu, Google Flights announced. Hopes remain high that remarkable journeys book at remarkable prices with input welcomed, Google Flights finished.

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In recent days, the US has introduced several changes to the draft based on feedback from the parties. Some changes benefit Israel, more strongly anchoring the commitment to disarm Hamas and demilitarize Gaza. Others, however, do not align with Israel's interests.

One of the most problematic changes is the removal of the sanction for removing international aid organizations that cooperate with terror. The original text of the resolution explicitly stated that "any organization found to have engaged in the misuse of such aid shall be deemed ineligible to provide ongoing or future assistance."

These words are missing from the new draft. In their place, it merely states the need "to ensure that such aid is used solely for peaceful purposes and is not diverted to armed groups." Critically, the sanction of suspending an organization whose employees were found aiding terror – as happened with UNRWA – has been eliminated.

On a more positive note, the revised text indicates that the IDF's withdrawal will be conditioned on full demilitarization and coordination with the US and Arab states. Per the new draft, the IDF's phased withdrawal from the Gaza Strip will only happen after agreed-upon standards for demilitarization and security are met. The text states the IDF will withdraw "in accordance with benchmarks and timetables to be determined jointly with the security forces, the guarantor states, and the United States," and that a limited Israeli security presence will remain to ensure terror does not return.

A new clause in the resolution mandates the international transition body (BoP) to submit a written report every six months to the Security Council detailing the progress of implementing Gaza's demilitarization on the ground. This step is intended to enhance transparency and oversight of the mechanism's work. Notably, a similar mechanism was supposed to operate for years in southern Lebanon through UNIFIL, but it failed to do its job.

Clause 7 of the draft resolution's new text includes direct coordination between the IDF, the Stabilization Force (ISF), Arab states, and the US. It stresses the international force's responsibility to prevent the restoration of terror infrastructure and ensure the Strip is demilitarized.

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The aim is to build these militias into a local order-enforcing force which, if successful, would later receive broader powers throughout the Strip. Two of these militias are led by Husam al-Astal and Yasser Abu Shabab, clan-backed militias operating in southern Gaza that have been engaging in daily clashes with Hamas terrorists.

According to reports in Arab and Israeli media, al-Astal, formerly a member of the Palestinian Authority's Preventive Security Service under the command of Mohammed Dahlan, joined forces with the militia established by Abu Shabab in eastern Rafah, and later set up his own "safe zone" in the Khan Younis area. In interviews, he claimed that his militia receives equipment and support from Israel, and that there is close coordination between him, Abu Shabab and Israel.

The reliance on such questionable forces stems from the difficulties in assembling the planned multinational force, a topic discussed today in a meeting between Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Jared Kushner, senior adviser to US President Donald Trump.

The composition of that force remains unclear, as, according to Israel Hayom's previous reporting, no countries other than Turkey are currently willing to send troops into territory still under the control of Hamas before it disarms.

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In response, US Energy Secretary Chris Wright called off his his planned visit to Israel, which had been scheduled as part of efforts to advance the $35 billion agreement.

The American energy giant Chevron, a key partner in the Leviathan gas field, has in recent weeks exerted heavy pressure on Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and on Cohen to finalize the ratification. However, the energy minister, who had been expecting Wright's visit, decided to postpone it for now due to several unresolved issues that require further clarification between Jerusalem and Cairo.

In recent days, the US administration has mounted significant pressure on senior Israeli officials, including Cohen and the prime minister, to approve the gas export deal to Egypt.

Cohen, for his part, insisted that gas prices for the Israeli market remain competitive. As negotiations have yet to be concluded, he refused to authorize exports until that matter is settled. At the same time, efforts have been underway to resolve the diplomatic disputes between Israel and Egypt.

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However, beyond a pompous concluding statement that forcefully condemned the acts of terror and called for international cooperation to eradicate this violent and grave threat to Israel's security and regional stability, the wave of Hamas terror renewed with all its might and cruelty, sowing murder and destruction in Israel. Thus, the dream of the meeting's architects to cultivate a more reconciled and terror-free regional environment solely through rhetorical and declarative means vanished in fire and smoke.

Nearly three decades since that stinging and resounding failure, it brings up from the abyss of oblivion and forgetfulness the pathetic and naive attempt by Britain and France in 1928 to outlaw the use of war through a toothless document and enforcement mechanisms (the Kellogg-Briand Pact).

Sharm el-Sheikh once again became the focus of mediation efforts, designed to end the fighting in Gaza and ensure, with the help of tools and mechanisms to be established later on, that the same violent and extremist Hamas would be removed and excluded from the centers of control, influence, and the military infrastructure it established. And this time, it would be done effectively and long-term, unlike the failed initiative of 1996.

Indeed, while the 1996 Sharm el-Sheikh conference featured colorful scenery but yielded no results, this time the quiet contacts held in Sharm el-Sheikh produced a dramatic agreement for a ceasefire and the release of all the hostages (Phase A of President Donald Trump's settlement plan), which was signed on October 9, 2025, between Israel and Hamas, brokered by the US, Egypt, Turkey, and Qatar.

The uniqueness of the agreement (even though it does not include agreements regarding all the patterns and details of the implementation of the next phases of the president's plan), which succeeded in bringing about a cessation of fire after two years of a difficult campaign, is rooted in the conduct and behavioral patterns of the American super-mediator, who demonstrated creative and resolute leadership, out-of-the-box thinking beyond traditional diplomatic frameworks, and a readiness to make optimal use, at the right time, of all the levers of pressure and influence at his disposal.

While the diplomatic virtuoso, Henry Kissinger, preferred to obscure or blur the final goal of his mediation efforts, and instead proceed using a slow and gradual method toward realizing his settlement vision, the 47th president Donald Trump presented the goal of ending the war (and not just achieving a ceasefire agreement) as his central objective from the outset.

Furthermore, in his diplomatic activity in the arena, the 47th president created a completely new model of a super-mediator, overshadowing even the legendary Henry Kissinger in his level of sophistication and originality. While the former US Secretary of State acted not only as an effective mediator but also as a factor that rewarded the parties during the mediation he led on the way to the interim agreement he achieved between Israel and Egypt in September 1975, Donald Trump demonstrated his full prowess last week by not settling for traditional and direct mediation, but by granting a package of incentives and perks to the sub-mediators.

Pressures on Hamas

He did not, therefore, limit himself to promising compensation (or issuing warnings, implied or explicit) to the warring parties themselves. This was to strengthen the motivation of these sub-mediators (mainly Turkey and Qatar) to exert heavy pressures on Hamas so that it would agree to soften its rigid positions.

Regarding Turkey, the American compensation appears particularly far-reaching. Recep Tayyip Erdoğan was promised the supply of F-35 aircraft, which he so coveted to receive, and he is slated to become a legitimate player in the agreement's implementation process.

Thus, the White House managed to create a two-layered web of heavy-weight levers of influence on Hamas. The cumulative weight of these levers made it hard for the terror organization, at the current time, to reject his plan. (Regarding Israel, Donald Trump directly applied these levers, but with a completely different dosage). This created the necessary infrastructure for the entire deal, in which carrots and sticks were integrated based on the business principle of "give and take" from Donald Trump's business background.

Hamas' dependence on Turkey

Although Qatar has long been known for dancing not only with the US but also with the devil, the fact that Doha had not succeeded in its mediation efforts until now (especially following the failed Israeli attack against senior Hamas officials in Qatar) is what led the president to his unprecedented decision to turn to Ankara, to shower Recep Tayyip Erdoğan with words of praise and flattery, and exploited the Hamas movement's great dependence on Turkey to turn it into a central executive contractor for his plan.

In this way, he also upgraded Turkey's security and political ties with Washington (in the hope that the price for strengthening Turkey and bringing it into the arena would not be too high for Israel, and that the American partner would provide Israel with appropriate security compensation for this).

Furthermore, in his activity as a super-mediator, Donald Trump revealed a deep understanding of the timing of his powerful entry onto the stage. The level of support for Israel around the world, and especially among the American public (including among the party's youth), has recently fallen to an unprecedented low (and also reflected on the status of the American superpower, Israel's loyal ally).

The fact that the Israeli action in Doha threatened to unravel the loose seams of the Abraham Accords and steer the Middle East down a path of chaos and instability, led the president to increase his activity. This was also in light of the growing criticism from wide sectors in Israeli society regarding what appeared to be a futile bogging down in the sands and alleys of Gaza.

Frustration in the White House

The growing frustration in the White House with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's promises of Hamas' total collapse, which did not materialize, and its sensitivity to the worsening condition of the hostages and the humanitarian distress in the strip, contributed to his decision that the time was ripe to throw his full weight into an increased effort to immediately bring about a cessation of the fighting (while also being ready to apply pressure on Israel not to resort to tactics of delay and postponement).

Thus, a window of opportunity was created by the president for the establishment of a ceasefire between Israel, isolated in the international arena and where growing signs of domestic fatigue and frustration are intensifying, and the terror organization, which has been significantly weakened and has lost most of its strongholds and centers of control. This was, of course, with the assistance of the sub-mediators, primarily Ankara, who mobilized for the mission of applying increased pressure on the terror organization.

If Europe was not mentioned at all in all the above, it is no coincidence. Apart from impractical plans that left no discernible mark, no trace remains of the unilateral and preposterous initiatives of French President (as of October 11) Emmanuel Macron, the European Union and the UN institutions. Is there a need for further proof of the leading status of the US as the sole superpower in the Donald Trump era, and the absolute marginality of Europe, which, apart from the background noise it created, contributed nothing to the advancement of the ceasefire?

And finally, the question of the Nobel Peace Prize, which was not awarded to the president on Friday. After the rumor already emerged from Oslo's halls that the win is contingent on a contribution to the establishment of a sustainable peace settlement, and not just the achievement of a ceasefire agreement, one can only hope and believe that if the process that Donald Trump created from scratch is indeed realized in practice and also leads to the expansion and upgrading of the Abraham Accords and the establishment of a new, more reconciled, and stable regional order, it will be difficult for the committee to object to his selection next year as the Nobel Peace Prize laureate.

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