On Wednesday, Donald Trump announced a historic agreement between Israel and Hamas, marking the start of a truce in Gaza. Behind this spectacular scene, the American president played a decisive role by combining diplomatic pressure, secret negotiations and media staging, to have the plan accepted and secure the release of the hostages.
A theatrical moment at the White House
On Wednesday, in the middle of a televised meeting at the White House, the Secretary of State interrupted Donald Trump to give him a confidential note. The American president then looked up at the cameras before announcing on his Truth Social network: “BLESSED ARE THE PEACEMAKERS! “.
The thunderous announcement marked the culmination of several days of negotiations carried out in the greatest secrecy, between Washington, Doha, Cairo and Jerusalem. If Trump hastened to take on the role of “peacemaker”, his diplomatic teams had been working for weeks to convince both camps to accept the first phase of the Gaza peace plan, centered on a humanitarian ceasefire and an exchange of hostages.
Direct pressure on Benyamin Netanyahu
Officially an unwavering ally of Israel, Donald Trump did not offer a blank check to Benyamin Netanyahu. During their meeting at the White House on September 29, the American president surprised his host by presenting a 20-point peace plan, drawn up with the participation of several Arab and Muslim leaders met at the UN a few days earlier.
Among the points that irritated the Israeli Prime Minister was the explicit mention of a Palestinian state, a red line for part of his government. But Trump insisted: without this concession, no regional consensus was possible. Behind the scenes, he told Netanyahu, according to Axios: “Bibi, this is your chance to win. With me, you have no choice. »
A reconstituted Arab coalition
Trump also took advantage of a tense diplomatic episode: an Israeli attack in Qatar, which came as talks neared a turning point. Furious, the American president used the indignation of Arab states to rally a common front around his initiative.
He even forced Netanyahu to call the Emir of Qatar from the Oval Office to issue a formal apology. A scene immortalized by the White House: we see Trump holding the receiver while the head of the Israeli government reads an apology prepared in advance.
Shortly after, Washington signed a decree providing security guarantees in favor of Qatar, proof of the central role that this emirate plays in mediation. This gesture illustrates the new direction of Trump, who is now banking on his Arab alliances forged during his two mandates.
A double-edged strategy with Hamas
At the same time, Trump exerted maximum pressure on Hamas, giving it an ultimatum: accept an agreement before October 5, under penalty of suffering “total hell”. The Islamist movement, however, was able to exploit the American president’s desire to repatriate Israeli hostages held in Gaza.
Several meetings took place at the White House between Trump and the families of the hostages, preparing a high-impact political scenario. The announcement of their upcoming release, scheduled for Monday, already constitutes a symbolic victory for the president.
In an unprecedented move, he even republished an official statement from Hamas, even though it is considered a terrorist organization by Washington, without commenting on it. For Trump, the nuances do not matter: what matters is the message of efficiency and power projected to the American public.
An assumed political calculation
The Gaza agreement offers Donald Trump a double opportunity: to restore his international image and impose his mark on Middle East diplomacy, one year before a possible new electoral campaign.
After the 2020 Abraham Accords, this breakthrough could establish its status as a pragmatic negotiator capable of forcing adversaries to the discussion table. For his supporters, it is the demonstration that “only Trump” could break down the wall of distrust between Israel, Hamas and their Arab neighbors.
But for its detractors, it is above all a political coup, orchestrated to maximize its image and influence regional diplomatic balances.
