Donald Trump Poised to Leverage Gaza Ceasefire Deal as He Takes Office

As Donald Trump prepares to be sworn in as the 47th president of the United States on Monday, he is set to capitalize on the success of a historic Gaza ceasefire and hostage release agreement that he helped finalize even before taking office. The agreement, which began to unfold in recent days, is seen as a significant diplomatic achievement for Trump, who threatened "all hell to pay" if the hostages were not released by his inauguration.

Trump’s Middle East envoy, Steve Witkoff, reportedly played a key role in securing the breakthrough deal. During a January 11 meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Witkoff applied pressure to ensure the necessary compromises were made, a move that Arab officials believe was crucial to the deal's success.

While the first phase of the deal, which includes the release of 33 hostages over six weeks, has widespread support in Israel, challenges remain. Many Israelis, including some within Netanyahu's coalition, are skeptical about a permanent ceasefire. A poll conducted last week found that 65% of Israelis back the current phase, but only 55% support moving through all three phases of the deal, which would require a permanent ceasefire.

For Netanyahu, the pressure is mounting. While he insists that the war will continue until Hamas is dismantled, the possibility of a deal that fully removes Hamas from Gaza could see him end the conflict. However, should Hamas resist giving up control of Gaza, Netanyahu has reportedly received assurances from Trump that Israel can resume fighting if necessary.

Trump’s influence in the region is becoming more pronounced, with his team sending mixed signals on whether they would support Israel resuming its military operations if Hamas does not comply. Trump has stated his desire for the conflict to end, while his national security adviser, Mike Waltz, has emphasized U.S. support for Israel if it needs to reenter Gaza.

As Trump takes office, he will be surrounded by advisers who strongly support Israel, including figures like Marco Rubio and Mike Huckabee. This pro-Israel stance could provide Netanyahu with the backing he needs if he chooses to continue the war, though Trump’s earlier comments and past critiques of Netanyahu suggest that the new administration may be less tolerant of any moves that undermine peace efforts.

One of the most significant aspects of this situation is the ongoing push to expand the Abraham Accords, which have already established normalization agreements between Israel and several Arab nations. Saudi Arabia’s involvement is key, and Riyadh has made clear that any normalization deal will require a clear and irreversible path toward the creation of a Palestinian state, a position that Netanyahu has repeatedly rejected.

As Trump takes office, he is already touting the achievements made in the Middle East, claiming that his administration has made more progress in less than three months than the previous one did in four years. With the Gaza ceasefire and potential expansion of the Abraham Accords on the table, Trump’s leadership will continue to shape the region’s future.