TEL AVIV — The Trump administration is moving ahead with the second phase of its plan to end the two-year Gaza war by cobbling together an international force to disarm Hamas and protect Gaza’s 2 million Palestinian residents. But Israel is balking both at the idea of Arab and Muslim forces on its border and at the emerging involvement of the Palestinian Authority in the plan’s implementation.

"Everything now depends on Trump," a senior Israeli diplomatic source told Al-Monitor on condition of anonymity. "Never has war in the Middle East, peace, reconstruction, negotiations, a redrawing of the geopolitical map and tens of billions of dollars all depended on the mood of one man.” 

All eyes on Trump

“If Trump wants to advance to Stage B of his plan, we will advance to Stage B. If he loses interest, we will not," said the senior Israeli diplomatic source, adding that everything depends on the American president because Netanyahu will not say no to him, nor will the Turks, the Qataris or the Egyptians. "It's a crazy situation, but it's also full of opportunities,” the source noted.