Kiron Skinner: Trump ‘Threw a Curveball’ in Gaza Ceasefire Negotiations

RUSH TRANSCRIPT:
Scott: “Professor Skinner, how would you assess the chances of this phase two actually going through and maybe being completed?”
SKINNER: “It’s all we have, and we have to have hope, but we have to have a lot of strategy. And that’s why even before he was sworn in on January 20th, Donald Trump and his team began to work closely with the Biden Administration on the various phases of this ceasefire deal, understanding that it’s probably the most difficult diplomatic task of the first half of 2025 in which the United States is involved. As General Jack Keane just said in the clip you played, trying to have the IDF withdraw completely from Gaza and have Hamas disband is, you know, virtually impossible as we look at it right now. But given the fact that Donald Trump really threw a curveball in these negotiations when he declared that Gaza should be depopulated and rebuilt, that may or may not happen, has put some fire under the Arab states and the leaders of Qatar and Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Egypt, and UAE have come together aggressively to develop an Arab response, an Arab plan. I believe they will take up that plan on March 4th at the Arab League. But it includes elements that reinforce the possibility of a successful phase two. The remaining hostages on both sides are hostages and prisoners are being released and a way to get Hamas out of Gaza completely. Even the Arab leaders don’t want a Hamas-led Gaza Strip. So all of this, I think, really will be contingent on the Arab states coming through with a plan that counters what President Trump puts forth and more aggressive diplomacy by Israel and the U.S. as they work closely with Arab partners.”