Trump-Led Diplomacy Secures Initial Israel-Hamas Peace Agreement

Nick Ewing

Business and Finance Manager

In late 2025, a major diplomatic breakthrough unfolded in the seemingly intractable conflict between Israel and Hamas.

After more than two years of intense fighting, hostage taking, and civilian suffering, the parties announced that they had agreed to the “first phase” of a peace plan: a cease‑fire, the release of hostages, prisoner exchanges, and a withdrawal of Israeli troops from specified zones in Gaza. 

Key to this development was President Donald Trump, who unveiled on Sept. 29 a 20‑point roadmap for Gaza and personally pressed parties to sign off on the deal.

Trump’s plan called for all living Israeli hostages to be freed within 72 hours, Israel to pull its troops back to agreed lines, and the territory to transition to governance under a “technocratic” Palestinian committee, backed by an international stabilization force. 

In the public eye, Trump positioned himself as the decisive mediator. He declared that all parties would be treated fairly, pledged U.S. commitment to enforcing the agreement, and held meetings with Israeli hostages’ families, Israeli lawmakers, and regional leaders.

 Behind the scenes, his son‑in‑law Jared Kushner and U.S. Special Envoy to the Middle East Steve Witkoff played critical roles in shuttling between Israel, Egypt, Qatar, and Hamas interlocutors, laying the groundwork for the final deal. 

Supporters of the agreement say Trump’s involvement brought renewed urgency and a clear framework, which overcame negotiation fatigue. Hamas itself publicly acknowledged that the talks were advancing.

The deal also drew broad regional buy‑in: Egypt, Qatar, Turkey, and other Arab states joined the summit in Sharm El Sheikh on Oct. 13, co‑chairing the event with Trump and Egypt’s President Abdel Fattah el‑Sisi. 

However, analysts caution that the peace remains fragile. While the first phase is in motion, many of the underlying issues, including Hamas’ long‑term role in Gaza, Israeli security guarantees, the political status of Gaza, reconstruction funding, and disarmament of militant groups remain unresolved.

 The next steps will be pivotal, seeing if Hamas fully cooperates, if Israel resists slipping back into unilateral action, and if the international community enforces the plan.

For Trump, this deal represents a major foreign‑policy achievement and a reassertion of U.S. influence in the Middle East. Whether the momentum holds will depend on implementation.

If successful, the first phase may open the door not only to easing Gaza’s devastation but also to a broader Middle‑East realignment. If not, the cease‑fire may fray and the region’s worst fears return.

The Israel‑Hamas peace deal is a rare moment of hope, and in this moment, Trump stands front and center as the architect. The heavy lifting still lies ahead, but the direction of travel has shifted.