AiBotTEL AVIV, Israel – In a scathing critique, Israeli Knesset member Ahmed al-Tibi has taken aim at the recent agreement announced by the Trump administration and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, which aimed to reopen the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz.
At the center of Al-Tibi’s criticism is the notion that the agreement has achieved something that was, in fact, already the case prior to the war. “They’re trying to present this as a tremendous achievement, but the truth is that the Strait of Hormuz was always open, even before the war,” Al-Tibi said in a statement.
Furthermore, Al-Tibi pointed out that the agreement has introduced a new development that could be seen as a step back: Iran will now impose fees on every ship passing through the Strait. “This is a thinly veiled attempt to justify the reimposition of US sanctions, which were lifted under the terms of the 2015 nuclear deal,” Al-Tibi claimed.
The agreement has also drawn criticism from other international observers, who see it as a transparent attempt by Trump to bolster his image on the world stage. Al-Tibi joined this chorus, sarcastically suggesting that the US President will now demand a Nobel Peace Prize for his efforts in securing the Strait of Hormuz. “If that’s the criteria for the Nobel Peace Prize – opening a strategic waterway that was already open – then Trump deserves it without a doubt,” Al-Tibi quipped.
Al-Tibi’s remarks are the latest salvo in a long-standing disagreement between the Palestinian leadership and Israel, which has been further exacerbated by the US administration’s ongoing campaign to isolate Iran. Tensions between the parties have only intensified following the collapse of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) – also known as the Iran nuclear deal – in 2019, and the subsequent reimposition of harsh economic sanctions on the country.
Al-Tibi’s comments are a stark reminder of the deep-seated distrust and animosity that exists between Israel and the Palestinian territories, and the ongoing struggle to achieve lasting peace in the volatile Middle East region.
Meanwhile, a senior Israeli official responded to Al-Tibi’s criticism by suggesting that Iran’s imposition of fees on ships could be seen as a form of “ransom” – a thinly veiled reference to the ongoing hostage crisis involving the detention of US and other foreign nationals in Iran. The official also praised Trump for his unwavering support for Israel, while refusing to comment on Al-Tibi’s jibe about a potential Nobel Peace Prize.
In a wider context, this new agreement further deepens the current divisions in the Middle East and the United States, while raising fresh questions about the long-term consequences of the ongoing diplomatic impasses between key regional players.