In the midst of an Israeli-Hamas prisoner exchange on October 13, former President Donald Trump delivered a powerful speech in the Israeli Knesset, heralding a “historic dawn of a new Middle East.” He declared the moment signified the end of an “age of terror and death” and the commencement of an “age of faith and hope and of God.” Trump highlighted the release of 20 Israelis and 250 Palestinian prisoners, along with the return of 1,700 Gaza detainees, attributing this success to his nebulous “20-point plan.”
The former president then traveled to Egypt for a summit to sign the initial phase of his peace agreement. This accord, as described by Trump, involved establishing a stabilization force in Gaza and transferring governance to a Palestinian committee overseen by a “Board of Peace” led by Trump and Tony Blair. The summit was characterized by elaborate photo opportunities and Trump’s public acknowledgments of his team and allies.
However, an in-depth review of Trump’s pronouncements reveals several discrepancies. His claim of resolving “8 wars in 8 months” is a significant overstatement. While some diplomatic efforts may have temporarily eased tensions, many conflicts persisted or reignited. The success of his brokered ceasefires, such as the one between the Democratic Republic of Congo and Rwanda, proved ephemeral, with continued violence.
Another contentious claim involves the alleged bombing of Iranian nuclear sites. Trump asserted that “14 bombs” were dropped, “obliterating” them, a statement unsupported by conclusive evidence. While some satellite imagery suggests possible damage, definitive proof of destruction remains elusive.
His critique of the 2015 Iran nuclear deal also clashes with expert assessments. The deal, which imposed limitations on Iran’s nuclear activities and was verified by international inspectors, was abandoned by Trump in 2018. Critics argue this withdrawal, rather than the deal itself, contributed to Iran’s resurgence in nuclear capabilities.
Furthermore, Trump’s narrative that the Obama-Biden administrations harbored “hatred toward Israel” is contradicted by historical records of substantial US military and political backing for Israel during those periods. His suggestion that Obama and Biden were inactive regarding the Abraham Accords is also inaccurate, as Obama had left office prior to their inception, and Biden actively sought to expand the accords, a process severely complicated by the recent Gaza conflict and its catastrophic humanitarian impact.