Exclusive — Trump on Gaza deal push: "I said, 'Bibi, this is your chance for victory'"
Add Axios as your preferred source to
see more of our stories on Google.
President Trump and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu shake hands after announcing a 20-point Gaza peace plan on Monday. Photo: Jim Lo Scalzo/EPA via Getty Images
President Trump told Axios on Saturday that "we are close" to a peace deal in Gaza, and said he'll push to finalize it in the next few days.
- "I said, 'Bibi, this is your chance for victory.' He was fine with it," Trump told me. "He's got to be fine with it. He has no choice. With me, you got to be fine."
Why it matters: Trump's public messaging and behind-the-scenes diplomacy on Friday brought Israel and Hamas closer than ever to ending a war that began almost exactly two years ago with Hamas' attacks of Oct. 7, 2023.
White House envoy Steve Witkoff and Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner were traveling to Egypt on the weekend to finalize the technical details of the hostage release "and discuss the lasting peace deal," a White House official told Axios.
- As of Saturday morning local time, the Israeli military had shifted to defensive operations in Gaza and stopped its air strikes beyond those needed for force protection, the IDF said.
- This came after Trump called on Israel on Friday to halt its strikes and enter talks with Hamas on finalizing a deal.
- Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu confirmed he had halted Israel's offensive to "prepare for the immediate implementation of the first phase of the Trump Plan for the immediate release of all hostages," his office said.
- Egypt announced on Saturday that the indirect negotiations between Israel and Hamas on the implementation of the deal will start on Monday in Sharm el-Sheikh.
State of play: On Truth Social, Trump expressed appreciation for the Israeli decision to "temporarily" stop the bombing "in order to give the hostage-release and peace deal a chance to be completed."
- He then called on Hamas to "move quickly" toward the release of hostages, or else the deal will be off the table.
- "I will not tolerate delay, which many think will happen, or any outcome where Gaza poses a threat again. Let's get this done, FAST. Everyone will be treated fairly!" Trump said.
Behind the scenes: On Friday, before Trump publicly called on Israel to stop its strikes, he spoke to Netanyahu on the phone.
- Trump told Axios in the interview that he was warned by his team ahead of the call that Netanyahu had reservations. But Trump said that when they spoke, Netanyahu agreed to move forward.
What they're saying: "We had great receptivity for our plan — every country of the world in favor. Bibi is in favor. Hamas went a long way — they want to do it. Now we will need to close it," Trump said.
- Trump said Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan was "very helpful" in pressing Hamas to move forward with the release of hostages.
- "Erdogan helped a lot. He is a tough guy, but he is a friend of mine and he was great," Trump said.
A U.S. official told Axios that Trump spoke to Erdogan on Friday, ahead of Hamas' response, and asked him to make sure Hamas didn't say no.
- "President Trump told Erdogan: 'I did a lot for you and now I need you to do this,'" the U.S. official said.
The big picture: Trump told Axios the war in Gaza isolated Israel internationally, and stressed that one of his goals in ending it is to restore Israel's international standing.
- "Bibi took it very far and Israel lost a lot of support in the world. Now I am gonna get all that support back," he said.
More than 67,000 Palestinians have been killed in the war, according to the Hamas-run Gaza health ministry. Most were civilians.
The latest: On Saturday afternoon, Trump posted a map of the proposed initial Israeli withdrawal from parts of Gaza to take place when the hostages are released. Trump said the map has been shared with Hamas.
- The initial withdrawal line will be the key issue in the indirect negotiations between Israel and Hamas that will start in Egypt on Monday.
- "When Hamas confirms, the Ceasefire will be IMMEDIATELY effective, the Hostages and Prisoner Exchange will begin, and we will create the conditions for the next phase of withdrawal, which will bring us close to the end of this 3,000 YEAR CATASTROPHE. STAY TUNED!" Trump wrote.
Go deeper: Trump tells Israel to stop bombing Gaza after Hamas responds to peace plan.
Editor's note: This story has been updated with negotiation plans.
