Two years into the ongoing war between Israel and Hamas, President Donald Trump’s administration is reshaping its diplomatic strategy — and insiders say it could bring the strongest opportunity yet for a lasting ceasefire.
According to a senior White House official, Trump’s special envoy Steve Witkoff and senior adviser Jared Kushner are heading to Egypt on Wednesday to join high-level truce negotiations. The move follows a strategy session with Trump in the Oval Office on Tuesday.
A Shift in Approach
After months of backing Israel’s military campaign against Hamas, Trump has begun pressing Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to change course — while strengthening ties with Arab allies who could help mediate peace.
“We are closer to a deal than ever before because President Trump decided to leave Netanyahu no room for maneuver,” said one Israeli adviser familiar with the talks, speaking anonymously. “Netanyahu has nowhere else to turn and needs Trump for both international and domestic survival.”
Trump’s shift followed Israel’s controversial airstrike on Hamas leaders in Qatar last month, which drew widespread condemnation. In response, Trump began consulting Arab and Muslim leaders, emphasizing diplomacy over unilateral action.
Hamas Shows Cautious Optimism
Key sticking points remain — including the withdrawal zones for Israeli forces, the release of hostages, and the exchange of prisoners — but signs of progress are emerging.
“On the Hamas side, there was optimism,” said Bishara Bahbah, a Palestinian-American businessman who has mediated between Hamas and the Trump administration. “They were pleased with the president’s reaction.”
According to Bahbah, Hamas leadership believes Trump’s new tone — one that balances pressure on Israel with respect for Arab input — represents a genuine opening.
A New Kind of Trump Diplomacy
Unlike his first term, which often featured public showmanship and unilateral declarations, Trump’s current Middle East diplomacy is described as patient, private, and partnership-driven.
By leveraging both his influence in Israel and his connections in the Arab world, Trump is building a coalition aimed at securing a comprehensive peace deal.
“Israel is stronger militarily than ever,” said one diplomat involved in the negotiations. “But diplomatically, it’s isolated. European leaders are calling for Palestinian statehood. Arab states are losing patience. And Trump is forcing Netanyahu to apologize to the Qataris in his office.”
The Qatar Connection
No country has played a more crucial role in Trump’s plan than Qatar, one of the three Gulf states he visited earlier this year.
After condemning Israel’s missile strike on Hamas officials in Doha, Trump ordered Netanyahu to personally apologize to the Qatari prime minister — reading from a White House–drafted statement, according to multiple sources familiar with the exchange. A senior Qatari official was reportedly in the Oval Office to ensure Netanyahu followed the script.
Shortly afterward, Trump announced Netanyahu’s agreement to a 20-point peace plan, outlining steps for a hostage exchange, a permanent ceasefire, and the temporary transfer of Gaza to international trusteeship.
Qatar then helped bring Egyptian and Saudi officials into the talks, applying pressure on Hamas to accept the plan.
“Trump working with Arab partners, especially Qatar, has changed the dynamics,” one U.S. official said. “He’s redefined what diplomacy looks like.”
A Strategic Alliance
Qatari Prime Minister Mohammed Abdulrahman Al Thani is expected to attend Wednesday’s negotiations in Sharm El-Sheikh, marking what Qatari spokesperson Majed Al-Ansari called “a critical stage” in the discussions.
In a sign of deepening ties, Trump recently signed an executive order establishing a NATO-style defense pact with Qatar, guaranteeing U.S. military support in the event of an attack. The announcement coincided with Netanyahu’s last visit to Washington.
Trump also accepted a $400 million Boeing 747 jet from Qatar earlier this year — a gift that is currently being refitted to serve as the new Air Force One.
Republican Praise for Trump’s Diplomacy
Prominent Republicans have praised Trump’s renewed focus on the Middle East, pointing to his success with the Abraham Accords — which normalized relations between Israel and several Arab nations — as a foundation for this latest effort.
“One of the biggest accomplishments of President Trump is getting the Arab world involved in solving the Palestinian issue,” said Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.). “People in the Middle East respond to strength. Trump took on Iran, stood by Israel, and earned respect.”
“When was the last time we had a president who got Arab nations to tell Hamas, ‘You need to accept peace and stop killing people’?” added Sen. Mike Rounds (R-S.D.). “This is a huge moment.”
The Road Ahead
With negotiations in Egypt set to resume this week, officials say both sides are closer than ever to ending a war that has devastated Gaza and destabilized the region for two years.
While obstacles remain, Trump’s mix of pressure, pragmatism, and partnership may have finally brought a ceasefire within reach — and positioned him as the central broker in what could become one of the most significant peace deals in modern history.
