On Wednesday evening, January 29, 2025, the Abaad Center for Strategic Studies held a dialogue session via the (X) platform under the title:
The Gaza Agreement and Beyond: Expected U.S. Policies
Participants in the dialogue:
• Khaled Khalil – Researcher specialized in Israeli affairs.
• Maher Hijazi – Palestinian writer and researcher.
• Qutaiba Idlbi – Researcher at the Atlantic Council in the United States.
The session was moderated by Mr. Ayyham Maqdisi, Research Assistant at the Abaad Center for Strategic Studies.
The discussion addressed the aftermath of reaching an agreement on Gaza and the focus on upcoming U.S. policies in the region, where Washington is expected to play a key role in consolidating the truce and ensuring the implementation of the agreement’s terms. The agreement raises questions about the extent of America’s commitment to pressuring various parties to guarantee its effectiveness.
The speakers added that the U.S. administration may seek to enhance its diplomatic role by providing security guarantees to Israel, alongside efforts to reconstruct Gaza and contain any potential escalation. The agreement is also expected to affect Washington’s relations with its regional allies, especially amid competition over influence in the region.
The speakers pointed out that the cessation of fighting is part of a broader strategy aimed at pushing regional allies and Israel to implement the “Deal of the Century” proposed in 2017. This deal is based on offering an alternative homeland for Palestinians in exchange for economic incentives, including rebuilding modern cities modeled after Singapore or Dubai, in return for concessions on land. These moves reflect the risks threatening the Palestinian cause, as Washington continues to gradually liquidate it by intensifying political and economic pressures.
The central question remains: Will the United States be able to turn the agreement into a launching point toward lasting stability, or is it merely a temporary truce in a long-standing conflict?
The speakers concluded that the success of the agreement depends on Washington’s ability to strike a balance between its commitments to Israel and the requirements of stability in Gaza, amid complex regional challenges that could reshuffle the cards at any moment.
