For anyone with family or friends in Gaza, or any connection to Palestine, the choice between Donald Trump – who has imposed visa restrictions on citizens of certain Muslim countries and is widely considered a controversial figure for his tough policies and his attempt to stay in power after his electoral loss – and Kamala Harris, the vice president who has led full US support for Israel’s military operations in Gaza – is a painful and difficult one.
Donald Trump’s return to the presidency could mark a turning point in US foreign policy, particularly in the Middle East, given his different approach to issues.
With regional instability and global challenges mounting, questions are being asked about how he will manage major conflicts in the region and how he will deliver on his promises to resolve these crises quickly.
The Middle East is preparing to welcome Trump back to the White House, with regional leaders welcoming him as they hope he will deliver on his promises of rapid stability, following his recent pledges to end the wars and unrest sweeping the region.
In Gaza, which has been suffering from an ongoing conflict with Israel for more than a year, residents, like the rest of the world, are waiting to see how Trump will handle the situation, especially in light of the faltering peace attempts, ceasefire efforts and prisoner exchanges.
Despite his strong support for Israel, Trump has stressed the need to end Israeli military operations in Gaza as soon as possible.
As in the Gaza Strip, Lebanon’s file awaits a solution from Trump to the ongoing conflict there between Israel and Hezbollah, which the United States classifies as a terrorist group.
Despite Trump’s promises to bring peace to the region, he has yet to reveal his strategy to achieve this. As the conflict escalates, many are anticipating his return to the presidency in the hope of calming the situation.
The ongoing conflict in both Gaza and Lebanon is on the verge of turning into a regional war, in light of the increasing tension and the exchange of missile attacks between Israel and Iran.
On the Iranian front, Trump is expected to reactivate the “maximum pressure” policy he adopted during his first term, especially after his repeated criticism of the Biden administration for what he described as its leniency towards Iran. This expectation was quickly reflected in the decline of the Iranian currency to low levels immediately after Trump’s election victory was announced.
As for Gaza, the ongoing war there has affected the course of Trump’s efforts to normalize relations between Israel and Saudi Arabia, a project he sought to achieve during his first term through the Abraham Accords that included several Arab countries.
The current conflict in Gaza has also thwarted American mediation efforts that sought to revive the “deal of the century” between Israel and the Palestinians. In this context, regional powers are closely watching how Trump deals with these developments.
Despite criticism from his opponents, Trump’s supporters see in his policies the strength needed to re-enforce American influence, in addition to effective pressure to achieve peace.
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