Trump Pushes Forward Gaza Deal Amid Intense Diplomatic Maneuvering
Washington, D.C. — President Donald Trump spent over an hour in the State Dining Room on Wednesday, listening as a panel of right-wing commentators described alleged Antifa-related violence, when an unexpected visitor appeared: Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
Rubio slipped in from the Cross Hall to whisper to White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles before informing Trump there was news from the Middle East—though he would have to wait until the press had left. Trump, patient as ever, continued the discussion, while Rubio jotted a message on a notepad: “Very close. Need you to approve a Truth Social post soon so you can announce deal first.”
Hours later, Trump would announce a significant development: Israel and Hamas had agreed to release all hostages held in Gaza in exchange for Palestinian prisoners, along with a partial withdrawal of Israeli forces from the enclave.
While the announcement marked progress, it did not signal the end of the conflict. Several critical issues, including the disarmament of Hamas and governance of Gaza, remain unresolved. Yet, after months of stalled negotiations and entrenched positions, the agreement represented a tangible victory for Trump, who has sought to turn his 20-point peace framework into reality. Before announcing the deal, he said he planned a trip to the region to witness the agreement firsthand.
Trump Navigates Arab and Israeli Hesitations
Throughout the negotiation process, Trump consistently pushed his framework, often ignoring reservations from both Israeli and Arab leaders. Last month, when Israel revised portions of the plan and Arab officials objected to public disclosure, the White House released it anyway, ultimately winning their support.
Similarly, when Hamas’ response fell short of fully endorsing all 20 points, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was cautious in presenting it as a success. Trump, however, saw opportunity and instructed Israel to halt bombardments, declaring Hamas “ready for a lasting PEACE.”
Trump’s approach emphasized momentum over perfection, hoping rapid action would break the deadlock that had frustrated his administration for months. Wednesday’s announcement, he noted, represented “first steps toward a Strong, Durable, and Everlasting Peace,” with unresolved issues left for future negotiations.
The Origins of the 20-Point Plan
Trump’s framework emerged in response to Israeli strikes in Qatar on September 9 targeting Hamas leaders. The attacks, which killed a Qatari security officer but failed to eliminate their targets, angered Trump, who felt blindsided by Netanyahu’s lack of coordination.
Trump had spent years cultivating ties with Qatar, a longstanding mediator with Hamas, including a historic visit in May, during which Qatar gifted him a Boeing 747 now being refitted as Air Force One. Using these connections, Trump, along with his envoy Steve Witkoff and son-in-law Jared Kushner, turned the crisis into an opportunity, combining elements from Arab proposals, European input, and advice from former British Prime Minister Tony Blair into a 21-point peace framework.
Presented to Arab leaders at the UN General Assembly on September 23, the plan was broadly endorsed despite its imperfections, and signaled a possible path toward ending nearly two years of conflict.
Securing Netanyahu’s Support
Before implementation, Netanyahu’s approval was critical. Over days of intensive meetings, Trump, Witkoff, and Kushner went through the plan line by line. Israeli objections included troop withdrawal, Palestinian governance, and statehood references. Several concessions were made, and Netanyahu ultimately agreed to apologize to Qatar’s leader for the earlier strikes, placing the call from the Oval Office with Trump nearby.
The final text released differed from the original Arab-endorsed draft, with details on Israel’s withdrawal and Palestinian statehood left deliberately vague. Arab officials raised concerns about the changes, but Trump moved forward, eager to capitalize on the diplomatic window.
“This is a big, big day, a beautiful day, potentially one of the great days ever in civilization,” he said during the White House announcement, while warning that Israel would take full action if Hamas rejected the plan.
Hamas’ Response and Moving Forward
Communication delays and internal divisions within Hamas slowed the response, but eventually the group agreed to release all hostages, though it did not fully address other elements of Trump’s proposal. Despite Netanyahu’s skepticism, Trump embraced the agreement, focusing on the progress made rather than remaining obstacles.
For Trump, the declaration that Hamas was ready to release hostages was a breakthrough after months of frustrating negotiations, signaling a potential — if tentative — step toward lasting peace.