Skip to content

Khalil Discusses the Gaza Ceasefire With Clarín, The Hill and Reuters

January 21, 2025

Clarin,Reuters,The Hill

Osamah F. Khalil


Israel and Hamas have agreed to a fragile three-phase agreement to return hostages and prisoners, and establish a permanent ceasefire in Gaza. The deal has brought relief to the international community but also questions about whether the truce will hold—an issue that President Trump will now oversee as he takes office. 

Trump could be persuaded to show interest if it’s tied to an incentive, such as Israel normalizing relations with Saudi Arabia, a process that was halted by the war and would be a huge diplomatic success for his administration.

“If this gets wrapped into broader normalization, then there’s a possibility that he will maintain interest,” Osamah Khalil, professor of history, tells The Hill. “But if it doesn’t look like the Saudis are going to move forward, or that the price is too high for them to put significant pressure on Netanyahu, then you can see him losing interest.” 

In the Clarín article, “Donald Trump Returns to the White House: The United States and the World Prepare for Drastic Changes,” Khalil says, “Trump has also claimed that he has learned from the mistakes of his first term. If he decides to follow his instincts to make agreements that are not guided by strict ideology, he could have a major presidency and improve the position of the United States in the world damaged by the Biden administration's unwillingness to end the war in Gaza and the escalations in Ukraine.

“However, if he returns to the fickle decision-making of his first term, it will be a difficult four years for the United States and the world,” he warns.

Khalil also reacted to the ceasefire in the Reuters article, “US reaction to Gaza ceasefire deal.” 

“The same terms that were agreed to by Hamas and Israel were available at least eight months ago and likely a similar deal could have been achieved late last year...Instead, the Biden administration’s vociferous support for Israel’s 15-month military campaign has had a profound impact on America’s standing in the world and President Biden’s reputation as he leaves office,” he says.


Communications and Media Relations Office
200 Eggers Hall