Does Trump’s Second Act Accelerate Gaza’s Collapse? (Part 4 of 5)
Apr
Part 4: From Abraham Accords to Abandonment — The Death of the Two-State Dream
How Trump’s peace deals redrew the map of Middle East diplomacy—without Palestine on it
When Donald Trump announced the Abraham Accords in 2020, the world heard the word “peace” ring from the White House podium with unprecedented clarity. For the first time in decades, Arab nations like the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain normalized relations with Israel—opening embassies, establishing trade, and even launching direct flights.
Trump called it a “historic breakthrough.” His allies hailed it as a visionary strategy to reshape the Middle East, bypassing decades of failed negotiations over Palestine. But while the photo ops and signing ceremonies were celebrated in Washington and Tel Aviv, another reality was unfolding just beyond the cameras: Palestinians were being left behind—once again.
Now, with Trump back in office for a second term, the consequences of that legacy are more visible than ever. The Abraham Accords, rather than ushering in a new era of inclusive peace, have signaled the abandonment of the two-state solution—and with it, the dream of Palestinian sovereignty.
In this fourth part of our series, we examine how Trump’s diplomatic agenda not only sidelined Palestine—but helped build a regional order where Palestinian rights no longer factor into the equation.
What Were the Abraham Accords?
The Abraham Accords were a set of normalization agreements between Israel and several Arab states—initially the UAE and Bahrain, and later Sudan and Morocco. Unlike earlier peace deals (like those with Egypt and Jordan), these accords were not tied to the resolution of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
Instead, they were grounded in economic opportunity, shared security concerns over Iran, and U.S.-brokered incentives—including arms deals, debt relief, and diplomatic perks.
For the Trump administration, this was a victory. After decades of stalemate, they had achieved what others could not: multiple Arab nations recognizing Israel. But for Palestinians, the accords were viewed as a betrayal of the Arab Peace Initiative, which promised normalization only after the creation of a Palestinian state.
The message was clear: Israel could make peace without Palestine.
Trump’s Vision: Real Estate Over Rights
Trump approached Middle East diplomacy the way a real estate mogul might approach a high-stakes deal: find common interests, isolate the opposition, and push it through. His “Peace to Prosperity” plan—unveiled in January 2020—promised billions in investment for Palestinians but offered no viable path to statehood.
- Jerusalem would remain Israel’s undivided capital.
- Palestinian “statehood” would be fragmented, demilitarized, and heavily dependent on Israel.
- The right of return for refugees? Off the table.
Palestinian leaders rejected the plan outright. So did much of the international community. But Trump didn’t wait for consent. He moved forward with the Abraham Accords anyway, rewarding countries willing to cut Palestine out of the picture.
What emerged was a new regional order—one where Palestinian sovereignty became an afterthought in favor of economics, optics, and U.S.-Israeli interests.
Normalization Without Justice
Trump’s second term has cemented this legacy. Rather than revisiting the Palestinian question, the new administration has deepened relationships with Abraham Accord signatories and is reportedly courting others, such as Saudi Arabia, Oman, and even Mauritania.
In doing so, Trump has made it clear: Normalization with Israel is the new litmus test for Middle East diplomacy—not human rights, not justice, and certainly not the aspirations of the Palestinian people.
This shift has had several consequences:
- Arab leverage is gone.
For decades, Arab nations used their refusal to recognize Israel as leverage to demand Palestinian justice. With that leverage gone, so is the incentive for Israel to negotiate in good faith. - Palestinian leadership is isolated.
Mahmud Abbas and the Palestinian Authority are now diplomatically sidelined, portrayed by the Trump administration as “obstructionists” rather than negotiating partners. - The two-state solution is functionally dead.
Not officially, perhaps. But in practice, no serious effort is being made to revive it—and with settlement expansion continuing, a viable Palestinian state is increasingly a fantasy.
The Betrayal Felt Across Gaza
While diplomats toast normalization in luxury hotels, the people of Gaza continue to live under siege, trapped by poverty, war, and political abandonment.
For many Palestinians, the Abraham Accords represent more than failed policy. They represent a moral betrayal—by the U.S., by Arab neighbors, and by a world that promised justice and delivered indifference.
In Gaza, this betrayal is felt in:
- The silence of regional powers as bombs fall on civilians.
- The absence of aid from former allies now prioritizing trade deals.
- The despair of a generation that sees their homeland bartered for oil, drones, and diplomatic handshakes.
This is not peace. It is a peace without people—an agreement signed over the heads and against the will of those it most affects.
The “Business Peace” Model and Its Failure
At the heart of Trump’s diplomacy is a belief that economic incentives can replace political rights. Under the “Peace to Prosperity” framework, Palestinians were offered investment zones, job creation, and regional partnerships—if only they gave up on sovereignty.
But history—and current events—have proven this model fatally flawed.
- You can’t eat investment promises. Palestinians rejected the idea that foreign dollars could substitute for dignity, freedom, and national identity.
- You can’t trade land for loans. Most of the territory offered in Trump’s plan consisted of disconnected enclaves surrounded by Israeli security forces and checkpoints.
- You can’t ignore justice forever. As long as Gaza is bombed, the West Bank is occupied, and refugees are denied return, peace will remain a slogan, not a reality.
Trump’s business-style diplomacy works in boardrooms, not battlefields. And in Gaza, the cost of his “deals” is counted in lives lost, not profits gained.
How the Accords Embolden Aggression
One of the most alarming side-effects of the Abraham Accords is how they have emboldened Israeli military aggression, particularly under Trump’s renewed term.
With normalization secured and Arab resistance muted, Israel has moved forward with:
- Expanded settlement construction in the West Bank.
- Increased military operations in Gaza.
- Targeted assassinations and the destruction of vital infrastructure.
The lack of diplomatic consequences has created a sense of immunity—a green light to act with impunity, knowing that the U.S. will block any serious international investigation and that former adversaries are now silent partners.
Trump’s role in this environment cannot be overstated. His embrace of Israeli leadership—especially the Netanyahu government—has provided both moral and material cover for policies that deepen occupation and escalate violence.
The Global Cost of a Broken Dream
The death of the two-state solution doesn’t just impact Palestine. It reshapes the global order.
- Human rights lose their currency. If international agreements can be ignored this easily, what hope is there for accountability in Ukraine, Sudan, or Yemen?
- Authoritarian regimes are emboldened. If occupation and apartheid can be rewarded with normalization and aid, why not elsewhere?
- Faith in diplomacy collapses. For young people across the region, the Abraham Accords are not a model for peace—they are a warning about what happens when justice is traded for convenience.
Conclusion: Peace Built on Sand
Trump’s Abraham Accords were billed as revolutionary. And in a sense, they were. They revolutionized how peace is defined—no longer as a process requiring mutual dignity, but as a transaction negotiated between powerful actors.
In this new framework, Palestine is invisible, its people voiceless, and its suffering irrelevant.
As Trump enters the second phase of his presidency, the consequences of that model are plain to see. Gaza burns. The West Bank fragments. And the two-state dream lies buried beneath decades of broken promises and bulldozed homes.
This is not the peace Palestinians were promised. It’s the price they’re being forced to pay.
In the final part of our series, we ask the ultimate question: What will history say of this presidency? Has Trump been a prophetic figure of bold realignment—or the architect of a moral and political collapse?
Next: Part 5 — Prophetic or Provocateur? The Moral Reckoning of a Presidency
About the Author
Daniel Elijah Joseph is a spiritual writer, lecturer in Accounting and Finance, and the founder of DanielelijahJoseph.com. With a passion for truth, justice, and divine wisdom, he writes on topics that intersect spirituality, leadership, current affairs, and human dignity. His work challenges mainstream narratives and calls readers to deeper moral and spiritual awareness in a rapidly shifting world.
