President Trump saying his Gaza peace plan will end the war between Israel and Hamas and launch a new era of peace in the Middle East is pure poppycock. Four months into the ceasefire, progress on implementing the 20-point plan appears to be stalling. According to two NPR correspondents from Gaza, the ceasefire plan is not going according to plan.

Persuading Hamas to give up its weapons is the “linchpin of everything” in the president’s plan. On the face of it, Gaza is edging closer toward peace. A crucial border crossing into Egypt reopened last week. Reconstruction plans are being circulated. A committee of Palestinian technocrats is on standby to take over from Hamas.

U.S. President Donald Trump's plan to end the Gaza war was given a boost on Monday with the reopening of the enclave's Rafah crossing with Egypt. But difficult questions remain unaddressed, including whether Hamas will disarm.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu meets President Donald Trump Wednesday to discuss Iran negotiations, as Washington weighs diplomacy against military action.