Israel's 'Retreat' Echoes Trump's 'Peace' Deal
Al-Monitor reports Israel's cabinet convening to ratify a 'Trump Gaza deal' with the military supposedly 'readying for retreat.' The deal itself, notoriously vague and Palestinian-rejected, feels like a historical footnote from a parallel universe. This isn't the first time an Israeli 'retreat' from Gaza has been floated. We saw similar pronouncements of 'disengagement' in 2005, only for the
blockade to tighten and military operations to intensify in 'Protective Edge' (2014) and beyond. One might wonder if 'retreat' here signals a strategic repositioning for renewed pressure, rather than genuine de-escalation. The media's framing of this as a 'deal' and a 'retreat' overlooks the pattern of escalation that often follows such announcements. The US has, for decades, provided billions in
military aid to Israel, a consistent backdrop to these 'deals' and 'retreats.' For example, in 2023 alone, the US approved $3.3 billion in security assistance. With such unwavering backing, Israeli actions are frequently presented as defensive, despite significant Palestinian casualties and continued expansion of settlements. How many times can a 'peace deal' be proposed and a 'retreat' announced
before we question the sincerity of the words themselves?