A comprehensive peace agreement involving sincere repentance is the only way forward in the Middle East, according to a Christian international relations expert.
US President Donald Trump has urged both parties meeting in Egypt for discussions to “move fast”.
“A ceasefire is a temporary halt to the armed conflict,” said John Heathershaw, Professor of International Relations at Exeter University. “But peace is an enduring period of time where not only does war end, but there is something like the biblical term ‘shalom’; peace and justice.”
“We’re not going to get to that point unless we have something really comprehensive,” said Heathershaw. “That requires repentance by those who have been committing violence, and forgiveness of one another. And these are very, very big asks in this context.”
He is doubtful of both parties’ willingness to enter into a long-term agreement, adding that the imbalance of global political power heightens tensions at the negotiating table.
“This is a David against Goliath in military terms, but in reverse,” said Heathershaw. “Hamas was in a position where it couldn’t say no [to negotiations].”
After Mr Trump threatened to release “all hell” if Hamas did not agree to a deal, the group said it was open to releasing all remaining hostages, living and dead. In return, it wants a prisoner exchange and will not concede control of the Gaza Strip to Israel, but instead welcomes its governance by “a Palestinian body of independents (technocrats), based on Palestinian national consensus and Arab and Islamic support”.
Trump and Netanyahu announced during a joint press conference that they “strongly oppose a Palestinian state."
The US president also said he would support Israel’s use of force, if Hamas did not agree to a deal within “three to four days”.
Heathershaw is hopeful for some pause, if only to return hostages and boost Netanyahu’s national ratings ahead of Israel’s elections in 2026.
“There is real hope that we will see an end to military action in Gaza for a period of time,” he said.
“But it may be that Hamas does not release all the hostages, because they are its only bargaining chip. The big concern is that that will be a stumbling block, where the whole peace deal may not go forward.”