## Summary: Donald Trump Orchestrates Gaza Hostage Release and Truce Deal **News Title:** How Donald Trump Pulled Off His Gaza Deal **Report Provider:** Channels Television **Date of Report:** October 9, 2025 **Time Period Covered:** Primarily September 29, 2025, leading up to October 9, 2025. **News Identifier:** MPpKY3kMtZmPrgg4E1Vj This report from Channels Television details the diplomatic efforts of US President Donald Trump in brokering a hostage release and truce deal between Israel and Hamas, a significant step towards ending the war in Gaza. The article highlights Trump's unconventional and assertive approach, driven by a desire to solidify his legacy as a "peacemaker-in-chief." ### Main Findings and Conclusions: * **Deal Secured:** On **September 29, 2025**, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu publicly endorsed US President Donald Trump's **20-point plan** for peace in Gaza. This was followed by the announcement on **October 9, 2025**, of a hostage release and truce deal between Israel and Hamas. * **Trump's "Peacemaker-in-Chief" Persona:** Trump actively promoted his role in the deal, announcing it on his Truth Social network with the biblical quote, "BLESSED ARE THE PEACEMAKERS!" * **Behind-the-Scenes Pressure:** While the public announcement was theatrical, Trump's success stemmed from extensive behind-the-scenes negotiations, including pressuring a reluctant Benjamin Netanyahu and securing support from Arab leaders. * **Shift in US-Israel Policy:** Trump's strategy marked a departure from his previous "blank check" approach to Israel, demonstrating a more assertive stance in influencing Israeli policy. ### Key Events and Actions: * **September 29, 2025:** Trump hosted Netanyahu at the White House to present his **20-point peace plan**. Publicly, Trump offered full backing to Israel if Hamas rejected the plan, stating Israel would have his "full backing to finish the job" and destroy Hamas. * **Private Negotiations:** In private, Trump exerted significant pressure on Netanyahu. The **20-point plan** was developed after consultations with Arab and Muslim leaders, and it contained elements that Netanyahu had previously opposed, particularly regarding the refusal to allow a Palestinian state. * **Qatar Diplomatic Incident:** Trump was reportedly "incensed" by an Israeli attack on Hamas members in Qatar, a US ally, during crucial negotiations. He leveraged the resulting Arab unity against this attack to gain their agreement to his plan. * **Oval Office Apology Call:** Trump orchestrated a call from the Oval Office where Netanyahu was compelled to apologize to Qatar's leader. Trump reportedly held the phone for Netanyahu as he read a prepared apology, with a senior Qatari official present to ensure adherence to the script. * **US Security Guarantees for Qatar:** Following the incident, Trump issued an "extraordinary order" granting Qatar US security guarantees. * **Shift in Foreign Policy Focus:** Trump's foreign policy in this term began with a trip to Gulf states (Qatar, Egypt, Abu Dhabi), notably excluding Israel, indicating a focus on strengthening ties with Arab nations. * **Hamas Deadline and Response:** Trump set a deadline of **October 5, 2025**, for Hamas to agree to a deal, threatening severe consequences otherwise. Hamas responded by capitalizing on Trump's commitment to securing the release of hostages. * **Trump's Strategic Framing:** Trump quickly declared Hamas's response a victory, issuing a video message and reposting Hamas's statement on Truth Social, despite Hamas not fully agreeing to most other points of his plan. * **Pressure on Netanyahu:** Trump reportedly told Netanyahu, "'Bibi, this is your chance for victory.' He was fine with it. He’s got to be fine with it. He has no choice. With me, you got to be fine." ### Notable Trends and Changes: * **Proactive Presidential Diplomacy:** The report highlights a more hands-on and direct involvement of the US President in brokering Middle Eastern peace deals. * **Leveraging Arab Relations:** Trump demonstrated an ability to utilize his relationships with Arab states to influence Israeli policy and achieve diplomatic objectives. * **Public vs. Private Diplomacy:** The report contrasts Trump's public pronouncements with his more assertive and strategic private negotiations. ### Notable Risks or Concerns: * **Partial Hamas Agreement:** The report notes that Hamas had not fully agreed to the majority of the points in Trump's plan, suggesting potential future challenges in the implementation and sustainability of the deal. * **Netanyahu's Initial Reluctance:** Prime Minister Netanyahu initially resisted key aspects of the plan, particularly concerning the establishment of a Palestinian state, indicating underlying tensions and potential future disagreements. ### Numerical Data and Timeframes: * **September 29, 2025:** Date of the joint press conference where Trump's **20-point plan** was unveiled and Netanyahu publicly supported it. * **October 5, 2025:** Deadline set by Trump for Hamas to accept the deal. * **October 9, 2025:** Date of the report and the announcement of the hostage release and truce deal. * **20-point plan:** The specific peace proposal put forth by Donald Trump. * **Two years of fear and worry:** The duration of the hostages' captivity.
How Donald Trump Pulled Off His Gaza Deal
Read original at Channels Television →US President Donald Trump listens to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (off frame) during a joint press conference in the State Dining Room of the White House in Washington, DC on September 29, 2025. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on September 29 said he supported US President Donald Trump’s 20-point plan to end the war in Gaza.
(Photo by Jim WATSON / AFP) It was a typically theatrical moment for the man who loves to publicly boast of being the “peacemaker-in-chief.” Donald Trump’s top diplomat interrupted a televised meeting at the White House to hand the US president a note and whisper in his ear that a Gaza deal was imminent.
Shortly afterwards he announced the agreement on his Truth Social network. “BLESSED ARE THE PEACEMAKERS!” he posted. But while the climax played out in front of reporters, including AFP journalists in the room, most of Trump’s efforts had been behind the scenes, as he sought to pressure a reluctant Benjamin Netanyahu and win Arab support.
Thousands of jubilant Israelis gathered in a Tel Aviv square on October 9, hopeful for the return of hostages held in Gaza since two years of fear and worry, after Israel and the Palestinian Hamas movement reached a hostage release and truce deal in a major step towards ending the war. Photo by JACK GUEZ / AFP Pressure on Netanyahu Seeking an unlikely Nobel Peace Prize and keen to bolster his legacy, Trump’s approach has been different to the blank check he has previously been regarded as giving key ally Israel.
When Trump hosted Netanyahu at the White House on September 29 to unveil his 20-point peace plan, he publicly gave the appearance of being fully behind the Israeli prime minister. Trump said that if Hamas did not accept the plan then Israel would have his “full backing to finish the job” and destroy the Palestinian militant group.
US President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu shake hands at the conclusion of a joint press conference in the State Dining Room of the White House in Washington, DC on September 29, 2025. (Photo by ANDREW CABALLERO-REYNOLDS / AFP) But in private, Trump was putting on the thumbscrews.
Firstly, the plan he laid before Netanyahu and Israeli officials had already been drafted following extensive consultations with Arab and Muslim leaders at the United Nations the previous week. When Netanyahu was confronted with it, he found there were key areas in it that he had sworn not to accept, especially on his refusal to allow a Palestinian state.
Arab unity over Qatar attack US President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu depart at the conclusion of a joint press conference in the State Dining Room of the White House in Washington, DC on September 29, 2025. (Photo by ANDREW CABALLERO-REYNOLDS / AFP) Trump was also privately incensed by Israel’s attack on Hamas members in fellow US ally Qatar while negotiations were at a sensitive stage.
He used Arab unity against the attack to get them all to agree to the plan. He then ambushed Netanyahu, making him call Qatar’s leader from the Oval Office to apologize. Trump even sat holding the phone for Netanyahu while the Israeli leader read from a piece of paper, a photo released by the White House showed.
Politico reported that a senior Qatari official was also in the room for the call to make sure Netanyahu stayed on-script. Trump later signed an extraordinary order giving Qatar US security guarantees. The shift also reflected the close ties that Trump has fostered with Arab states during both his presidencies.
In his first term the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Morocco signed the Abraham Accords recognising Israel. This time around, Trump’s first major foreign trip was to the Gulf states of Qatar, Egypt and Abu Dhabi — with no stop in Israel. Seizing on Hamas offer US President Donald Trump participates in a joint press conference with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (off frame) in the State Dining Room of the White House in Washington, DC on September 29, 2025.
(Photo by Jim WATSON / AFP) Trump piled on the pressure, giving Hamas a deadline of October 5 to make a deal or face “all hell.” Hamas responded cunningly, playing on Trump’s well-documented pledge to win the release of all the hostages held in Gaza. Trump has repeatedly met relatives of the hostages at the White House.
Trump quickly seized it as a win. He issued a video message and, in an unprecedented step for a US president, reposted the statement by the group that Washington has designated a terrorist organization. There was no mention of the fact that Hamas had not fully agreed to most of the other points in his plan.
But instead of quibbling over the details, Trump pushed Israel, Hamas and their mediators to quickly thrash out a deal. Trump told the Axios news outlet that he had said to Netanyahu: “‘Bibi, this is your chance for victory.’ He was fine with it. He’s got to be fine with it. He has no choice. With me, you got to be fine.
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