Israel-Hamas Deal is “Best in the Circumstances” and “No Doubt Whatsoever” Trump Gets the Credit

Israel-Hamas deal is "best in the circumstances" and "no doubt whatsoever" Trump gets the credit: Talmiz Ahmad, former Ambassador to Saudi Arabia, Oman and the UAE, to Karan Thapar for The Wire. .......................................... One of India’s best known and most highly regarded experts on the Middle East and a former Ambassador to Saudi Arabia, Oman and the United Arab Emirates, has said that the Israel-Hamas deal, which comes into effect tomorrow, Sunday the 19th, is the “best in the circumstances”. Talmiz Ahmad also believes that there is “no doubt whatsoever” that the credit should go to the incoming American President Donald Trump. In a 30-minute interview to Karan Thapar for The Wire, Mr. Ahmad made clear that he personally has little doubt that Phase 2 of the deal, when a permanent ceasefire will take effect and Israel will withdraw from Gaza, will happen. He believes at that point a revived Palestine Authority should take charge of Gaza. Mr. Ahmad believes that there is a role for India to play in the reconstruction of Gaza and Indian companies have considerable experience. He cited the work they have done in Iraq and Syria. To help you follow the interview I give below the main questions put to Mr. Ahmad. Here they are: 1) Let me start with a general question. Israel and Hamas have agreed on a deal which comes into effect tomorrow, Sunday the 19th. To begin with, how do you view this deal? 2) The deal could have happened any time since May of last year. Has it happened now because of pressure from Donald Trump and the intervention of his Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff? 3) The deal consists of three phases. Let’s go through them one by one. In phase one Israel will get back 33 hostages but without really withdrawing its troops. It’s only repositioning them. How significant a gain for Israel is this? 4) Hamas will get hundreds of Palestinian prisoners released, permission for displaced Gazans to return to their homes and perhaps 600 trucks a day of humanitarian aid, relief supplies and fuel. But all of this will happen with Israeli soldiers remaining in Gaza. How much of a gain for Hamas is that? - Who will distribute the aid and fuel? UNRWA will bring it in but who will distribute it within Gaza? 5) Let’s come to Phase 2 when a permanent ceasefire should come into effect and Israel should fully withdraw from Gaza. Will Phase 2 happen? 6) If Phase 2 doesn’t happen will the deal have benefited Israel more than Hamas? 7) There is no doubt that Hamas has been battered over the last 15 months although it’s by no means wiped out. But has its reduced circumstances left it no option but to accept what could be an unequal deal? 8) If Israel reneges on Phase 2, where would that leave the United States, Qatar and Egypt, who presumably gave an assurance to Hamas that Phase 2 would happen? 9) What the deal doesn’t cover is who will rule in Gaza if Israel withdraws in Phase 2. Israel will not accept Hamas but who will take its place? 10) If we get to Phase 3, it involves reconstruction. Do you believe major Arab powers like Saudi, UAE, Qatar, will play a significant role in reconstruction? 11) Could India play a role in the reconstruction of Gaza or is that unlikely? 12) Finally, Netanyahu and Trump are said to be very close and by agreeing to the deal now Netanyahu has given Trump a victory even before he’s sworn-in. In return what are the chances Trump will look away if Israel attacks Iran’s nuclear installations, something it’s long threatened to do? Join The Wire's Youtube Membership and get exclusive content, member-only emojis, live interaction with The Wire's founders, editors and reporters and much more. Memberships to The Wire Crew start at Rs 89/month. https://www.youtube.com/channel/UChWtJey46brNr7qHQpN6KLQ/join