Trump secures initial Gaza ceasefire and hostage release
President Donald Trump has brokered the first phase of a 20-point peace plan between Israel and Hamas, leading to a ceasefire and the release of remaining hostages from Gaza. The deal follows intense U.S. pressure on Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu after an Israeli strike in Qatar. Regional leaders have signed on, with hopes for broader normalization agreements.
The agreement, announced around October 10, 2025, marks a significant step in ending the conflict that began with Hamas's October 7, 2023, attack on Israel, which killed 1,200 people and led to the abduction of 250 hostages. Under phase one, Hamas is required to release the final 20 living hostages along with remaining bodies within 72 hours. Israel has begun drawing down its troop presence in Gaza but will continue to occupy approximately 53% of the territory until subsequent phases.
Trump's involvement intensified after Israel targeted Hamas leaders in Qatar, prompting the president to issue an executive order treating attacks on Qatar as threats to U.S. security. In a meeting in the Oval Office, Trump directed Netanyahu to phone Qatar's emir to apologize for the strike and pledge no repeats. Trump, who received a $400 million jet from the emir, also met with leaders from Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Gulf states during the U.N. General Assembly, assuring them Israel would not annex the West Bank.
The 20-point plan outlines future steps, including Hamas disarming and relinquishing power, a full Israeli withdrawal from Gaza, establishment of a multinational board for reconstruction, and resumption of talks toward a two-state solution. A senior White House official noted the deal's fragility amid deep mistrust, but highlighted positive momentum for expanding the Abraham Accords, which normalized ties between Israel and nations like the UAE and Bahrain during Trump's first term. Potential new partners include Saudi Arabia, Indonesia, Mauritania, Algeria, Syria, Lebanon, and further ties with Qatar.
Up to 200 U.S. troops stationed in the Middle East will monitor the ceasefire and facilitate humanitarian aid. While Hamas's regional support has weakened— with its leadership decimated, Hezbollah's capabilities destroyed, and Syria's Assad regime collapsed—experts caution that phases two and beyond, involving Gaza's governance and disarmament, will be challenging. Netanyahu recently told commentator Ben Shapiro that Trump's actions have restored U.S. leadership in global affairs, emphasizing America's strength as key to regional security.
Saudi Arabia has conditioned normalization on progress toward Palestinian statehood and U.S. defense assurances, elements the plan addresses indirectly by suggesting conditions for self-determination as Gaza rebuilds under Palestinian Authority influence.