President Trump is trumpeting his peace deal for Gaza as “strong, durable and everlasting.” Strong, perhaps. Durable, perhaps. Everlasting? Well, about as everlasting as the peace between Israel and Hezbollah signed in November, 2024.
On paper, it’s peace. In reality, Hezbollah, which is supposed to disarm, tries to rearm. Israel attacks Hezbollah as it attempts to rearm. This is the peace. Is it strong? In a sense, yes. Hezbollah has been defanged by Israel, which flouted President Biden’s demand not to attack Hezbollah. Is the peace durable? In a sense, yes, as the government of Lebanon begins to emerge as an independent force, unshackled from the violent demands of Hezbollah. Is it everlasting? Not so long as Hezbollah keeps trying to rearms.
Ditto, Gaza.
We hope the hostages will finally come home, as promised. We hope that Hamas will be removed from power in Gaza, as promised. We hope the war ends, as promised.
But does that make the peace everlasting? As everlasting, we fear, as in Lebanon. Hamas will attempt to rearm. Israel will not be deterred by a signed peace agreement from attacking those who violate it.
The main thing going for a peace agreement in Gaza is precisely the same thing going for it in Lebanon: the disgust of the people for the terrorists — the disgust of the Lebanese people for the destruction that Hezbollah bought to Lebanon, the disgust of the Gazan people for the destruction that Hamas brought to Gaza.
Hezbollah and Hamas are as brutal against their Arab opponents as they are against Israelis. “Everlasting peace?” There is still a lot to pray for.
© IJN 2025
