Trump’s Gaza Ceasefire Deal Is Already Failing Palestinians

Oct 17, 2025

Dr. James Zogby, president of the Arab American Institute, dives into the complexities of the Trump-brokered Israel-Palestine ceasefire. He critiques the plan's vagueness and lack of genuine Palestinian input, while expressing skepticism about its enforcement. The discussion reveals ongoing struggles faced by Gazans, including partial aid entry and rising mistrust. Zogby emphasizes the need for a unified Palestinian political body and advocates for a real discourse around self-determination and humanizing Palestinian suffering in Congress.

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ANECDOTE

Gazan Writer’s Lived Account

Taqwa Ahmed Al-Wawi describes surviving in Gaza and using writing as resistance during the siege.
She says aid trickles in but daily life remains a struggle and trust in ceasefires is shattered by repeated violations.

ADVICE

Bring Palestinian Stories To Policymakers

Zogby advises bringing Palestinian voices to Congress to humanize their suffering and influence policy.
He stresses asking lawmakers to consider humanitarian needs and an arms embargo, not just stopping weapons shipments rhetorically.

INSIGHT

Vague Plan, Real Control Risks

James Zogby warns Trump's 20-point plan is vague, lacks enforcement, and mostly preserves Israeli control.
He says the plan risks re-creating or worsening Gaza's strangulation under new internal controls.

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The first phase of the U.S.-brokered Gaza ceasefire deal began to move forward this week as Israeli and Palestinian hostages have been released and aid trickles in.

“The crossings were partially reopened, so some aid is coming in — food, water, and medicine — but only a small amount compared to the huge need,” says Intercept contributor Taqwa Ahmed Al-Wawi. “People are surviving, but every day it is still a struggle.”

“There is a pause in the bombing, and I say 'a pause' because there are still people being killed,” says James Zogby, the president and co-founder of the Arab American Institute.

This week on the Intercept Briefing, we hear from poet and writer Al-Wawi about what it’s been like in Gaza over the first few days of the ceasefire. Then reporter and host Jonah Valdez speaks to Zogby who, along with a delegation of Palestinian Americans, are meeting with members of Congress to ensure the current ceasefire holds and to push for an arms embargo on Israel.

“We were challenging members of Congress, not just on ending the weapons supplies to Israel because they've so abused them — in violation of U.S. and international law — but also to consider what are the needs of those who remain behind, the millions of Palestinians still in Gaza,” says Zogby.

Valdez and Zogby dig into the details — or lack thereof — in Trump’s plan, how Israel is already breaking the ceasefire agreement, takeaways from past efforts to broker peace through the decades, and how the American public can continue pushing lawmakers to achieve lasting peace, healing, and reconstruction that benefits Palestinians.

“Nothing's going to happen on the Israeli side in terms of concessions, unless there's a threat of punishment coming from the U.S. or the international community,” says Zogby. “That's what happened during Oslo [Accords]: The U.S. let Israel get away with murder, and they just kept doing it. If Donald Trump lets them do the same thing — and I fully expect that he probably will — then I don't expect this to move toward completion.”

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