Dr. Ahmed Younis: Trump's visit is inseparable from the economic and political ambitions he seeks to consolidate in a sensitive election year.

Dr. Rifaat Sayed Ahmed: Trump's upcoming visit to the region is more of a tax evasion than a diplomatic visit, and any Arab hopes pinned on it are false.

Dr. Sinan Shaqdih: There is nothing to indicate that Trump will offer anything positive on the Palestinian issue, not only during his visit to the region, but throughout his term.

Dr. Amani Al-Qarm: I do not rule out the continuation of the joint Israeli-American plan to destroy Gaza and displace a large portion of its people after Trump returns to his country.

Dr. Amjad Shehab: There are no strong indications that Trump's visit will lead to an immediate halt to the aggression on the Gaza Strip.

Dr. Thaer Abu Ras: If Trump succeeds in reaching a ceasefire agreement and obtaining massive investments, this will be considered a major achievement for him.

Some observers are betting on unexpected decisions that US President Donald Trump may make during his scheduled visit to the region starting Tuesday. Chief among them is a halt to the war of extermination that the occupying state has been waging against the Gaza Strip for nearly twenty months. This is particularly true in light of Hamas' release of American hostage Idan Alexander on Monday, and the rumours of a cooling of relations, or even a rupture, between the US president and the Israeli prime minister.

However, others doubt that this visit will result in any significant decisions, especially given Trump's long history of bias toward the occupying state during his previous and current terms. They assert that his primary and ultimate goal is to return with the largest financial investments from the Gulf states.

Writers and analysts who spoke to Al-Quds said that Trump's visit is inseparable from the economic and political ambitions he seeks to advance in his current term. They emphasized that Trump's upcoming visit to the region is more of a tax peddling trip than a diplomatic one, and that high hopes should not be pinned on it.

The scene is chaotic and multi-player in Gaza.

Lebanese academic and political analyst Dr. Ahmed Younes said, "There is no doubt that we cannot compare the Indian-Pakistani conflict with what is happening in Gaza. The difference is fundamental, as the former conflict is confined to two states, each with its own institutional system."

He added, "As for Gaza, the scene is chaotic and multi-player: Israel, Hamas, Iran, the Houthis, and regional actors. This is especially true since Trump, despite his traditional support for Israel, abruptly halted the US campaign against the Houthis without coordinating with Tel Aviv, which has raised Netanyahu's concerns."

Younis continued, "However, there are indications that Trump is seeking a 'temporary humanitarian understanding' in Gaza: the entry of aid, the restarting of the power plant, or a food deal with American companies. Such a move might satisfy a portion of the American and international public, and allow Netanyahu to escalate in Gaza in exchange for Washington's silence on the Iranian issue."

However, he believes the challenge remains Trump's credibility as a mediator. His decisions often shift according to his electoral and propaganda interests, rather than based on fixed strategies. Therefore, stopping the war in Gaza depends not only on his will, but also on reshaping the regional balance.

Dr. Younis emphasized that Trump's visit is inseparable from the economic and political ambitions he seeks to consolidate in a sensitive election year. Amid a renewed Iranian nuclear issue and Israel's declining confidence in his administration, Trump appears headed to the Gulf to achieve two goals:

The first is economic. According to Younes, the US president is setting his sights on signing massive deals with the Gulf states, including defense, food, and possibly energy. He added, "Reports indicate a Saudi desire to reactivate joint projects that were suspended during the previous administration, and Trump knows how to capitalize on this moment to score an 'economic victory' that will bring him back to Washington as a successful negotiator."

Trump and complex deals

The second is political, as Dr. Younis emphasized that the Gulf wants American guarantees against the Iranian threat, but without getting involved in a war. Therefore, Gulf leaders may offer Trump a deal: a measured normalization with Israel in exchange for a nuclear agreement that would freeze Iran's capabilities without provoking it. They know that Trump accepts complex deals as long as they benefit his media and popular standing.

Younes addressed the expected reception for Trump in Gulf capitals. He said it "is not only a confirmation of the relationship, but an attempt to use his presence to pressure Israel toward a calm in Gaza and to remove the Iranian issue from the immediate danger zone. In short, the Gulf does not want a comprehensive war, but rather a new balance between Washington and Tehran."

Younis concluded his statement by emphasizing that Trump's visit is not just a diplomatic tour, but a true test of his ability to manage crises and leverage them to serve his electoral and economic interests. He added, "His ability to stop the Gaza war remains hostage to complexities that go beyond his propaganda style, and requires true shrewdness and a deep understanding of the region, which has changed significantly since his last visit."

19 months of actual conflict with the United States

For his part, Dr. Rifaat Sayed Ahmed, an Egyptian nationalist thinker and strategic expert, described US President Donald Trump's upcoming visit to the region as more of a tax evasion than a diplomatic visit, noting that any Arab hopes pinned on this visit are false.

"The region has been engaged in a real conflict with the United States, not just with Israel, for nineteen months, since the outbreak of the Battle of the Flood of Al-Aqsa," Sayed Ahmed said.

He added, "Deep America is the one that brought Trump and Biden to power, and therefore it is the one fighting us, and it is the one that will make the decision." He noted that "stopping the war will come at the expense of Arab and Palestinian rights."

He suggested that there would be an Israeli administration occupying the Gaza Strip, while the Arab administration would merely be a cover for that.

He stressed that Netanyahu only comes to issue orders for further occupation, and that we should not rely on any truce or agreement led by him.

He pointed out that the situation here is completely different from the relationship between India and Pakistan, explaining, "We are witnessing an American attack on the region and an attempt to collect oil revenues, rather than an effort to achieve just Arab or Palestinian interests."

Threatening America with Oil and Normalization

Sayed Ahmed believes that Arab leaders, at the upcoming Arab Summit, to be held in Baghdad in a week, must act to protect their thrones and positions through unity and threatening America with the oil and normalization cards with the Israeli occupation.

He said, "If the Arabs do not do this, and remain traditional and diplomatic, and continue to welcome Trump—the man behind the 'Deal of the Century,' the assassination of Soleimani, and other regional figures—we should expect further Arab humiliation."

He emphasized that the only opportunity available to us is this summit, followed by clear positions from the countries Trump visits, expressing their practical rejection of Israeli aggression by severing ties with it and using the oil card.

Sayed Ahmed concluded his statement by saying, "Otherwise, I believe that Trump's visit will be merely protocol, and that no agreement will be reached unless it comes at the expense of the Palestinians and Arabs in general. We should not dream of any American role similar to the one Washington played between India and Pakistan; that is an illusion."

"The blackberry will not bear apples"

In turn, Dr. Sinan Shaqdih, an expert on American affairs, said: "On the Palestinian side, the possibilities of what Trump's visit to the region will yield can be summed up with the saying: 'The blackberry will not bear apples.' There is nothing logically that can indicate whether US President Trump will offer anything positive on the Palestinian issue, not only during his visit to the region, but throughout his current term, which ends in 2028."

He added, "The information available from his previous statements and public positions provides a clearer picture of Trump's "hangover." During his first term, he announced the "Deal of the Century" plan, which proposed a two-state solution, but included recognizing Jerusalem as the undivided capital of Israel, annexing parts of the West Bank to Israel, and offering economic investments to the Palestinians in exchange for a state of limited sovereignty, which the Palestinian leadership rejected."

Shaqdih continued: "In December 2024, Trump said he supported any solution that would lead to peace between the Palestinians and Israel, noting that there were 'other ideas besides the two-state solution.' This reflects an ambiguous position and a clear lack of commitment to the two-state solution. In February 2025, Trump indicated a plan that included allocating lands in Jordan and Egypt to the Palestinians, hinting at the possibility of recognizing Israeli sovereignty over the West Bank. In addition, he made statements about a plan for US control of Gaza and the displacement of Palestinians to other locations, indicating that Trump may prefer solutions that go beyond the idea of a traditional Palestinian state."

He pointed out that if Trump offers anything on the Palestinian issue, he will not do so for the "pretty good" of the Palestinians, but rather as part of a Saudi-Islamic quid pro quo linked to regional negotiations that include normalization between Saudi Arabia and a host of Islamic countries behind it and Israel.

The dispute with Netanyahu has moved from rumors to actions.

Shaqdih noted that Trump is not a traditional American president. Furthermore, his administration was appointed based on loyalty to him, not to the American establishment. Consequently, there is a possibility that he may adopt positions that constitute a complete U-turn on what might be expected of him, especially since his dispute with Netanyahu has moved from the realm of rumors to being expressed in action. Several points can be pointed out here that confirm the existence of the dispute:

Trump, author of "The Art of the Deal," who runs America like a private company, will receive money from Gulf states to invest in America and create jobs, while paying Israel annually.

Trump posted a video of Jeffrey Sachs about two months ago describing Netanyahu as a "son of a woman"—using a vile slur.

Trump stated that Netanyahu would not drag the United States into a war with Iran.

• Trump seeks negotiations with Iran instead of asking Israel to bomb Iranian nuclear sites.

• Trump fired National Security Advisor Waltz because of his close association with Netanyahu and his accusation of conspiring with Netanyahu to push the United States toward war with Iran.

Trump concludes an agreement with the Ansar Allah movement in Yemen, allowing continued targeting of Israeli ships.

• Israeli media reported that Trump cut off contact with Netanyahu because he believes Netanyahu is manipulating him and his administration.

Trump's Defense Secretary abruptly canceled his scheduled visit to Israel.

Trump's ambassador to Israel stated that the United States does not need Israel's approval to achieve peace with Yemen.

A long history of negative attitudes towards Palestinian rights

Shaqdih concluded by saying, "Given Trump's history of negative positions on Palestinian rights, and despite the escalating dispute with the Netanyahu government, it is unlikely that Trump will offer anything to the Palestinians. If he does, he will demand significant concessions from the Palestinians, given his history of pro-Israel bias and his support for policies such as moving the US embassy to Jerusalem."

He added, "His history and public positions indicate his preference for economic or regional solutions (such as the displacement of Palestinians or the allocation of land in other countries) rather than a sovereign Palestinian state. However, it is not unlikely that Trump will announce some form of symbolic recognition of some Palestinian rights as a courtesy to his hosts."

The hype and consequences of Trump's visit

For her part, Dr. Amani Al-Qarm, a writer and researcher on American and Israeli affairs from Gaza, said: "The uproar and results of Trump's visit to the region began to appear before it even began.

She added: "It is noteworthy that Trump's visit and the uproar raised around it by President Trump himself are important indications."

First: The importance of the Middle East to American policy. Despite attempts by some strategic thinkers in the United States to downplay the region's importance and the need to abandon it and focus on other regions such as East Asia, it will remain a key center for American strategy and national interests. Its military and economic ties to the region and its global reach cannot be abandoned. It is clear that no matter how hard you try to abandon the Middle East, it will not abandon you. As Brzezinski said, America's vision of the Middle East is linked to America's global role.

Second: The Gulf states, especially Saudi Arabia, with their strategic and central weight represented by the combined importance of oil and petrodollars, stand out as an indispensable partner for the United States. The dimensions of the relationship between the two parties, based on weight and mutual interests, make it extremely difficult to sever the partnership between the two countries and overcome any potential disagreements regarding the orientations of a given presidential administration. This has been clearly evident in recent days, as Riyadh has emerged as a hub for global engagement, hosting the Ukrainian-Russian talks and entering the Indian-Pakistani mediation line.

Gulf investments and normalization agreements

Third: President Trump came to power in the White House with two goals in mind, based on his personal background and experience as a businessman and as a person who believes he is the best at governing and running the world, as he says: First: Gulf investments in the United States. Second: Completing the normalization agreements, both of which rely on Saudi Arabia. Given its regional and global weight, Saudi Arabia has conditions, the most important of which is that it will not enter into the normalization agreements until progress is achieved in the negotiating process towards an independent Palestinian state, a matter that Israel is trying with all its might and aggression to obliterate any attempt to circumvent this issue.

Regarding the impact of Trump's visit to the region on the war in Gaza, Al-Qarm said: "He is the one who initiated the Gaza Riviera project and displaced its people under the pretext of their safety, while standing beside him is the one responsible for their destruction. He also has the most Zionist administration in the United States, and is closely aligned with the right-wing Zionist government in Israel. Therefore, I do not believe the impact of the visit will extend beyond its timeframe, and its influence will remain within the limits of American interests and the interests of President Trump."

Al-Qarm added: "Therefore, I do not rule out at all the continuation of the joint Israeli-American plan to destroy Gaza and displace a large portion of its people after Trump returns to the United States and the tumultuous nature of his visit to the region ends."

New proposals from Egypt and Qatar to stop the aggression

Political analyst Dr. Amjad Shehab said, "Trump's visit to the region will not lead to a halt to the aggression on the Gaza Strip unless Hamas makes additional concessions, despite the US pressure on Israel exerted by the Trump administration to reach a truce with Hamas before his visit, with warnings that continued aggression could lead to a reduction in US political support."

He added that Trump was able to secure the release of Israeli-American soldier Eden Alexander, the last surviving American prisoner held by Hamas, without any real commitment to ending the tragedy in the Gaza Strip.

Shehab emphasized that Trump's visit coincides with mediation efforts by Egypt and Qatar to put forward new proposals to halt the aggression, including a long-term truce and prisoner exchange.

He said, "There is little hope that Trump will push for a political solution to the situation in the Gaza Strip during his visit. Unfortunately, there are no strong indications that Trump's visit will lead to an immediate halt to the aggression on the Gaza Strip, as Israel insists on continuing its massacres until it achieves its goals: the displacement of the population and the surrender of Hamas."

The primary goal of Trump's visit is economic.

On the other hand, Shehab pointed out that the primary objective of President Trump's visit is economic, with the goal of securing the largest possible investment in the US economy from the countries he will visit, such as Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and Qatar.

He pointed out that without offering any real concessions or tangible compensation to the Arab states, such as implementing the Arab Peace Initiative proposed in 2002, or serious discussion of a two-state solution, halting settlement activity, or lifting the siege on the Gaza Strip, this remains the greatest challenge for the Arab states: obtaining a compensation acceptable to Arab public opinion, instead of promises that have not been honored since the end of the era of American presidents such as George W. Bush, President Obama, and now President Trump, etc.

Dr. Shehab concluded his statement by asserting that the mission of rescuing the Arabs' reputation as an influential force at the regional and international levels remains their greatest challenge, and that the use of peaceful means, particularly economic ones, is sufficient to halt the aggression and massacres in the Gaza Strip and find a satisfactory solution to the Palestinian issue.

Signing trade agreements with Gulf countries

In turn, Dr. Thaer Abu Ras, a lecturer in the Department of Political Science at the University of Maryland, Washington, said, "Trump's visit to the region aims, first and foremost, to sign trade agreements with the Gulf states, leading to massive investments within the United States and in the American economy."

He emphasized that Trump loves to appear victorious, and that he will therefore strive to arrive at the Saudi summit with at least a solution to a ceasefire, and perhaps even more so in Gaza.

He added, "Trump will try to stop the ceasefire in Gaza, but ultimately, his primary goal remains Gulf investments in America, because he promised that his policy would be based on attracting foreign investment into the United States, without the United States investing abroad, as it has done over the past forty or fifty years."

Abu Ras said, "Trump wants to show Americans that the tables have turned, and that investment is now coming to the US from abroad, not the other way around. This is the main goal."

The cooling relationship between Netanyahu and Trump

He added: "If he also succeeds in reaching a ceasefire agreement, in conjunction with the signing of trade agreements, this will be an additional achievement for him, and he will continue to pressure Netanyahu to achieve it."

Abu Ras believes there is a cooling in the relationship between Netanyahu and Trump, partly due to Trump's desire to achieve an accomplishment before arriving in the region.

He emphasized that the United States had previously attempted to play a mediating role between India and Pakistan, but that it was only one of several countries, and that this was not an achievement to be credited to Trump.

Abu Ras concluded by saying, "If Trump succeeds in reaching a ceasefire agreement, along with obtaining massive investments from the Gulf states, this will undoubtedly be considered a major achievement for him, and he is in dire need of such achievements."