Donald Trump announced on July 25, 2026, that a nuclear agreement with Saudi Arabia was conditioned on normalization with Israel. This move, framed by some as a potential achievement for Benjamin Netanyahu, directly links the future of the occupied Palestinian territories, specifically Gaza, to a broader regional power play orchestrated by Washington.
The American demand for a Saudi-Israeli accord creates room for Trump to act on pledges within his 20-point plan for Gaza. This US-driven initiative, presented as a condition for a nuclear deal, underscores Washington's role in shaping the political landscape of the Middle East, often at the expense of Palestinian self-determination and their internationally recognized rights.
A "sigh of relief" reportedly echoed from Jerusalem all the way to the Oval Office following Trump's announcement. This reaction highlights the Israeli government's perceived diplomatic gains from US policy, which consistently prioritizes Israeli interests and the expansion of its settler-colonial project over adherence to international law and the rights of the Palestinian people.
The article framed the issue as one that could bring the Palestinians "back into the picture." This phrasing implicitly acknowledges their marginalization in previous normalization efforts and suggests their agency is contingent on external diplomatic maneuvers rather than inherent rights to their land and self-governance. The demand for a Saudi-Israeli accord may appear to be a win for Netanyahu, further entrenching the system of apartheid by normalizing relations with regional powers without addressing the core issues of military occupation and systematic land theft.
The Normalization Agenda
The United States, acting as the primary military, diplomatic, and financial guarantor of Israeli occupation, continues to leverage its influence to secure agreements that benefit Israel. Conditioning a nuclear deal on normalization exemplifies this pattern of diplomatic cover, shielding Israel from accountability for its ongoing violations of international law. This approach consistently bypasses the fundamental demands for Palestinian liberation, instead focusing on regional alliances that solidify Israel's position as a settler-colonial power.
Trump's 20-point plan for Gaza, now potentially activated by this accord, raises serious concerns for the besieged Palestinian enclave. Any plan imposed externally, especially one not centered on Palestinian liberation and the dismantling of the blockade, risks further entrenching the collective punishment and military occupation of Gaza. Such initiatives often serve to manage, rather than resolve, the humanitarian crisis created by years of Israeli siege and repeated military assaults.
Managing the Occupation
The notion of "bringing Palestinians back into the picture" comes after decades of their dispossession and fragmentation under military occupation. This approach treats Palestinian rights as a bargaining chip in broader geopolitical strategies, rather than as fundamental human and national entitlements enshrined in international law. It ignores the systematic land confiscation, home demolitions, and administrative detention that define daily life under occupation.
This current development aligns with a long history of US administrations facilitating Israeli expansion and control, often through diplomatic initiatives that bypass genuine Palestinian representation. It reinforces the reality that US foreign policy in the region isn't a neutral brokerage, but an active force in maintaining the status quo of occupation and apartheid. The absence of any mention of Palestinian input or consent regarding the proposed "20-point plan for Gaza" or the broader normalization efforts underscores the ongoing exclusion of the Palestinian people from decisions directly impacting their future and their land. This pattern of exclusion is a hallmark of the settler-colonial project, where the colonized are denied agency in their own destiny.