President Donald Trump speaks upon departing a news conference with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, in foreground, in the State Dining Room of the White House, Monday, Sept. 29, 2025, in Washington.
After months of deadlock, U.S. President Donald Trump has achieved a long-awaited breakthrough in Gaza — a ceasefire and hostage release deal between Israel and Hamas. The agreement, which took weeks of high-stakes diplomacy, was made possible through crucial help from Arab and Muslim allies.
The truce aims to pause the devastating conflict triggered by Hamas’ attack on Israel on October 7, 2023. Under the new terms, Hamas is set to release 48 hostages, with around 20 believed to be alive.
According to senior U.S. officials, Hamas leaders eventually realized the hostages had become a liability rather than leverage. That moment created a narrow window for diplomacy — one that Trump’s team quickly seized.
Behind-the-Scenes Negotiations
Key negotiators, led by special envoy Steve Witkoff and Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner, saw an opening when Hamas began signaling exhaustion. Yet, progress remained difficult. The U.S. had to navigate deep mistrust between Israel and its Middle Eastern neighbors, each with competing goals.
Even now, uncertainties persist — particularly about Gaza’s reconstruction, governance, and whether Hamas will disarm. Still, the deal marks a major step forward for Trump, who had promised to bring home all remaining hostages.
A Crisis in Doha Sparks Tension
Earlier in September, U.S.-mediated ceasefire talks involving Egypt and Qatar had stalled. Negotiator Witkoff had already pulled back, frustrated with Hamas’ unwillingness to compromise.
But when Hamas later accepted a proposal similar to one previously approved by Israel, neither the U.S. nor Israel immediately responded.
Then came a shocking escalation. On September 9, Israel launched an airstrike in Doha, targeting Hamas negotiators reviewing the latest proposal. The strike — which killed five Hamas members and a Qatari security officer — enraged Gulf leaders and drew sharp criticism from the White House.
Trump rushed into damage control, assuring Qatar that the U.S. remained committed to peace. The incident threatened to derail months of diplomacy, but Qatar stayed engaged, continuing talks with Witkoff and Kushner. Together, they refined what became Trump’s 20-point Gaza peace plan.
Rallying Arab and Muslim Support
Two weeks later, Trump met with eight Arab and Muslim leaders on the sidelines of the United Nations summit. The meeting, which he called “my most important one,” focused on building regional consensus.
After returning to Washington, Witkoff and Kushner worked closely from New York, keeping Secretary of State Marco Rubio in the loop as they sought buy-in from key nations like Egypt, Turkey, and Qatar.
The Turning Point
By late September, the peace team finalized the plan just before Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s fourth White House visit of the year. To repair strained ties with Qatar, Trump encouraged Netanyahu to make a symbolic gesture of reconciliation.
In a dramatic moment, Trump personally called Qatari Prime Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani and handed the phone to Netanyahu. Reading from a prepared note, the Israeli leader apologized for the Doha airstrike. The White House later released photos of the tense exchange, signaling a shift toward dialogue.
Netanyahu soon announced his acceptance of Trump’s ceasefire plan. Under the terms, Hamas must release all remaining hostages within 72 hours of the truce in exchange for hundreds of Palestinian prisoners. The group is also expected to give up control of Gaza and disarm — though the latter remains uncertain.
Trump’s Decisive Move
Hamas’ response to the U.S. proposal was cautiously positive. The group agreed to release hostages and step back from power but avoided committing to disarmament. Rather than treating the statement as rejection, Trump chose to frame it as progress.
While Israel observed the Sabbath, Trump acted swiftly, declaring that Hamas was “ready for peace.” Netanyahu later confirmed that Israel was preparing for the first stage of the plan — the release of hostages — while reaffirming his commitment to end the war on Israel’s terms.
Though skepticism remains within Israel, even critics acknowledge Trump’s timing gave diplomacy fresh momentum.
In an interview with Fox News host Sean Hannity, Trump said he believed the deal could help rebuild Israel’s international reputation. “I told Bibi Netanyahu,” Trump said. “‘Israel cannot fight the world, Bibi.’ And he understands that.”
