By Pat Trevino — October 14, 2025
(6 – 8 min read)
The Nurse, the Doctor, and the Diplomat
I’ve seen this moment before. Not in a war room or a summit hall, but in a delivery room.
My daughter had been in labor for over six grueling hours. One nurse stayed by her side the entire time—checking vitals, adjusting monitors, offering comfort, and making sure my unborn granddaughter was safe. Then, just minutes before the birth, the doctor walked in, gloved up, and caught the baby. He got the applause. The nurse got a nod.
That’s what this so-called “historic” Gaza ceasefire feels like.
The Photo Op in Cairo
Yes, President Trump stood in front of the cameras in Cairo, flanked by world leaders, signing a 20-point peace declaration. Yes, he delivered a speech to the Israeli Knesset and declared the dawn of a “new Middle East.” And yes, the final 20 living Israeli hostages were released—an undeniably emotional moment for families who had waited in anguish for two years.
But the real work—the strategic diplomacy, the shuttle negotiations, the backchannel pressure—was done by Secretary of State Marco Rubio. He was the nurse in the room. Trump just caught the baby.
Ceasefires Like Desert Winds
Let’s be clear: this isn’t the first ceasefire between Israel and Hamas. It’s not even the tenth. Ceasefires have come and gone like desert winds—each one hailed as a breakthrough, each one collapsing under the weight of unresolved truths.
So, before we clap, before we cheer, let’s ask: what exactly has been born here?
The release of hostages is real, the signatures are real—but the peace? That’s staged. Trump didn’t broker it—he choreographed it.
What This Deal Doesn’t Deliver
No Palestinian Statehood
The agreement makes no mention of a path to sovereignty for Palestinians. Gaza remains under siege, the West Bank fragmented, and the dream of a two-state solution as distant as ever.
No Accountability
Over 67,000 Palestinians—many of them children—have died in this war. Entire neighborhoods have been reduced to rubble. There is no mechanism in this deal for justice, reparations, or even acknowledgment of that loss.
No Representation
Neither Hamas nor Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu were at the table. The Palestinian Authority was present but sidelined. This was a deal made about people, not with them.
No Guarantees
Within days of the signing, Israeli forces opened fire on civilians near Gaza’s border. Hamas has not disarmed. The ink wasn’t dry before the cracks began to show.
Who Actually Signed the 2025 Israel-Hamas Peace Deal?
Yes, the deal is real—but it was brokered and signed primarily by international actors, not the direct parties to the conflict. That’s exactly why its legitimacy is being questioned.
Signed in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt on October 13, 2025, by:
- U.S. President Donald Trump
- Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi
- Qatari Emir Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani
- Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan
These leaders acted as mediators, not combatants. The deal was announced after Hamas released the final 20 living Israeli hostages and Israel freed nearly 2,000 Palestinian prisoners. But neither Hamas nor Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu attended the summit, and the Palestinian Authority was present but sidelined, with no direct role in shaping the terms.
So, Is It Legitimate?
That’s the heart of the controversy. A peace deal signed without the primary belligerents at the table is fragile at best. It’s real in the sense that documents were signed, hostages were exchanged, and international leaders declared victory—but it’s also deeply flawed:
- Hamas did not formally endorse the agreement and has already violated its terms by carrying out mass executions of alleged collaborators.
- Israel’s military has continued operations near Gaza’s border, citing ceasefire breaches.
- Netanyahu’s absence signals internal political resistance to the deal, especially among hardliners in his coalition.
Why This Is Just Political Theatre
- No combatants at the table: Neither Hamas nor Netanyahu signed the deal. That’s like hosting a wedding without the couple.
- No structural change: The agreement didn’t address statehood, justice, or long-term security. It paused violence temporarily but didn’t dismantle its roots.
- Perfect timing: The summit came just weeks before key elections in the U.S. and Israel. That’s not coincidence—it’s choreography.
- Legacy optics: Trump’s speech at the Knesset and the Cairo photo op were framed as historic, but the groundwork was laid by diplomats like Rubio, and the outcomes remain fragile.
So, What Did the U.S. Get?
For Trump, this is legacy-building. A photo op. A headline. A chance to say he ended a war—without ending a war. For Rubio, it’s a masterclass in quiet diplomacy. He built the bridge. Trump walked across it with the cameras rolling.
And yes, the hostage release matters. It’s a moment of relief for Israeli families and a humanitarian win. But it’s also a moment that risks being used to mask the absence of deeper change.
The Final Word
For the people of Gaza and southern Israel, this isn’t a victory. It’s a pause. A breath. A moment to bury the dead and count the missing. The release of hostages is real, the signatures are real—but the peace? That’s staged. Trump didn’t broker it—he choreographed it.
Until Israel and Palestine confront the truths buried beneath the rubble—about land, power, and human worth—this ceasefire will remain a photo op, not a turning point. We’ve seen this before. The world may broker deals, but without the people who bleed for it, it remains political theater—serving politicians who seek headlines, not healing.