Trump's Strategic Pressure on Netanyahu: The Inside Story of the Gaza Peace Deal

US President Donald Trump and Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu

In characteristic dramatic fashion, the self-proclaimed "peacemaker-in-chief" orchestrated a theatrical announcement of the Gaza deal. During a televised White House meeting, Donald Trump's senior diplomat approached him, discreetly delivered a note, and whispered about the imminent agreement.

Shortly after this staged moment, Trump announced the deal on his Truth Social platform, declaring: "BLESSED ARE THE PEACEMAKERS!" While journalists, including AFP reporters present at the scene, witnessed this public culmination, the majority of Trump's diplomatic maneuvering had occurred privately, applying significant pressure on a hesitant Benjamin Netanyahu while simultaneously securing Arab support.

In pursuit of a Nobel Peace Prize and determined to strengthen his presidential legacy, Trump adopted an approach distinctly different from his previous unconditional backing of Israel. During Netanyahu's White House visit on September 29, where Trump unveiled his 20-point peace proposal, he publicly projected unwavering support for the Israeli leader.

Trump stated that if Hamas rejected the proposal, Israel would receive his "full backing to finish the job" and eliminate the Palestinian militant organization. However, behind closed doors, Trump was strategically applying pressure.

The peace plan presented to Netanyahu had already been formulated following extensive discussions with Arab and Muslim leaders at the United Nations the previous week. When confronted with the proposal, Netanyahu discovered it contained key elements he had previously vowed to reject, particularly regarding the establishment of a Palestinian state.

Trump privately expressed outrage over Israel's attack on Hamas members in Qatar, a US ally, during a critical phase of negotiations. He strategically leveraged Arab unity against this attack to secure collective agreement to the peace plan.

In a calculated move, Trump cornered Netanyahu, compelling him to contact Qatar's leader directly from the Oval Office to offer an apology. A White House photograph captured Trump holding the phone while Netanyahu read from a prepared statement. According to Politico, a senior Qatari official was present during the call to ensure Netanyahu adhered to the script. Trump subsequently signed an extraordinary order providing Qatar with US security guarantees.

This diplomatic approach reflected the close relationships Trump has cultivated with Arab nations throughout both his presidencies. During his first term, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, and Morocco signed the Abraham Accords recognizing Israel. In his current administration, Trump's first major international trip was to Gulf states including Qatar, Egypt, and Abu Dhabi, notably excluding Israel.

Trump intensified pressure by giving Hamas an October 5 deadline to reach an agreement or face "all hell." Hamas responded strategically, capitalizing on Trump's well-documented commitment to securing the release of all Gaza hostages—a cause for which Trump has repeatedly met with hostage family members at the White House.

Trump promptly claimed this as a diplomatic victory. He released a video statement and, in an unprecedented action for a US president, reposted a statement from the organization that Washington officially designates as terrorist. The announcement glossed over the fact that Hamas had not fully accepted most points in Trump's proposal.

Rather than dwelling on these details, Trump urged Israel, Hamas, and mediators to rapidly finalize an agreement. In a conversation with Axios news, Trump revealed telling 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."