Axios: Trump Prevented Israeli Attacks on Gaza

According to Rokna, citing sources familiar with the matter, Trump’s assurances were pivotal in persuading Hamas to accept the ceasefire. The agreement was officially enacted early Friday morning local time following cabinet approval in Israel.

Axios reported that two U.S. officials, speaking at a briefing with journalists, revealed that as Gaza peace negotiations approached, Trump personally guaranteed that Israel would not abandon the deal or resume hostilities. Part of this guarantee included the establishment of a U.S.-led special military task force to monitor the ceasefire and address any violations.

Under the agreement, the Israeli military must withdraw forces to agreed-upon areas within Gaza within 24 hours of cabinet approval. Meanwhile, Hamas is required to release all remaining hostages, including 20 confirmed alive, within 72 hours, with the process to be completed by Monday. Officials noted that a key factor in reaching the deal was a shift in Hamas’s view of the hostages, now seen as a responsibility rather than a bargaining asset.

On Tuesday, before departing for Egypt, Trump asked his representatives, Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff, about the likelihood of reaching an agreement. Kushner reportedly replied, “100%,” prompting Trump to ask how he could be so certain. Kushner answered: “Because we cannot accept failure.”

Upon arrival in Egypt, Witkoff and Kushner held meetings with Egyptian, Qatari, and Turkish mediators, relaying Trump’s message to Hamas. Trump was personally involved in the negotiations, making at least three direct calls to ensure all parties understood the importance of full implementation.

Trump’s guarantee also included the creation of an international military monitoring mechanism led by the U.S. Approximately 200 U.S. military personnel will participate in a joint task force alongside forces from Egypt, Qatar, Turkey, and the UAE to oversee the ceasefire, although they will not be physically present in Gaza.

On Friday, Witkoff and Kushner are scheduled to meet with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and senior military officials to finalize the details of the monitoring mechanism and the planned International Stabilization Force (ISF), which will deploy to areas vacated by Israeli forces. The deployment is expected to take several months. Once the ISF is in place, efforts will begin to dismantle military installations and heavy weaponry in Gaza.

Witkoff and Kushner also attended an Israeli cabinet session to advocate for the agreement and will remain in the region until Trump’s arrival next week, overseeing the implementation of Israeli troop withdrawals, hostage releases, and the return of Palestinian detainees.