Part 8/13:

Turning to the Middle East, Hois praised the recent agreement between Israel and Hamas on a Gaza ceasefire and hostages release, crediting former President Trump for leveraging diplomatic influence. He observed that some Israeli political factions are hesitant but are likely to accept the deal under pressure, especially given the desire to return to some normalcy amid ongoing destruction and humanitarian crisis. Hois acknowledged that while the ceasefire and hostage negotiations represent progress, significant challenges remain—particularly in Gaza’s reconstruction, demining, and establishing sustainable governance.