The Jordanian scholar spoke to AsiaNews about the critical issues that have emerged after the "easier" step of getting the “living hostages” back to Israel. In fact, Hamas refuses to surrender its weapons, and the establishment of an international force to monitor the truce is stalled. Overcoming the “pattern of regional conflicts and tensions” is needed to create a “future of peace on a cultural, as well as economic basis.”

The population is “honoured” to have been chosen as the first destination of the pontiff's apostolic journey abroad, but it is also “exhausted”. From two years of war to attacks in southern Israel, many issues remain unresolved. Ortagus' mission for direct negotiations between the Jewish state and the Land of Cedars. The rift widens between Christians, Druze and Sunnis and the Shiite Hezbollah-Amal tandem.

In the climate opened up by the meeting in Egypt, the Lebanese head of state announced his willingness to hold talks with the Jewish state. However, he did not specify whether these would be direct or not. The similarities between the disarmament of Hezbollah and Hamas in Gaza. Hezbollah and Amal are looking to the May 2026 elections to maintain their leadership on the Shiite side. And they aim to block any agreement that may be unwelcome.

According to the US-based Gaza-born scholar, Hamas is seeking to "restore complete monopoly" over the territory and in weapons. To this end, it is “killing and torturing other Palestinians” on the pretext that they collaborated with Israel. A mission is needed "to enforce law and order” to “protect Palestinians”. Among the people he talks to in Gaza, “there's a sense of fear that we are going back to October 6th”.

Israel’s prime minister pulls out from the signing of the agreement, ostensibly because of a Jewish holiday, but the most likely reason is the presence of Palestinian Mahmoud Abbas. Israeli media announced a historic visit by Indonesian President Prabowo to Israel tomorrow, which Indonesia’s foreign ministry quickly denied. Modi snubs the summit, sending his Minister of State for External Affairs.

Speaking to AsiaNews, Yonatan Zeigen calls for breaking the mould of a country at war where time has stood still since the tragedy of 7 October. The time has come to think about the present and the future, beyond Trump's peace deal, and imagine a "different vision" based on "equality" between the two peoples. Now a new leadership, a new government, a new mindset are needed for both Israelis and Palestinians.