In a world grown cynical about ceasefires, the Gaza peace deal announced this week stands out as a moment few believed possible. What makes it remarkable is not just the outcome ~ the end of one of the most destructive conflicts in decades ~ but the improbable path that led to it. President Donald Trump, a leader long dismissed as impulsive and anti-diplomatic, has emerged as the unlikely broker of calm where seasoned statesmen failed.

The breakthrough rests as much on his personal style as on the shifting ground realities in the region. It took audacity to move the process forward when all else seemed lost ~ and a certain disregard for the conventions that often paralyze formal diplomacy. At the core of Mr Trump’s success lies leverage: his close bond with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, his longstanding business and political relationships across the Gulf, and his ability to apply pressure on both........

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