Post Reports: Negotiating over Trump’s Peace Plan for Gaza

Date: October 7, 2025
Host: Colby Kowitz
Guests: Claire Parker (Cairo bureau chief), Michael Birnbaum (White House reporter)

Episode Overview

On the two-year anniversary of the October 7 attacks, Israel and Hamas are engaged in high-stakes peace talks in Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt, negotiating over a proposal championed by President Trump to end the war in Gaza. This episode dissects the latest developments, what Trump’s plan entails, why these negotiations are different, and what’s at stake if the talks fail. The reporting features firsthand insights from journalists on the ground and expert commentary from the White House beat.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. The Anniversary Context and Human Toll

• October 7, 2025, marks two years since Hamas’ surprise attack on Israel, resulting in 1,200 Israeli deaths and 251 hostages (00:30).
• Israel’s retaliation led to over 60,000 deaths and 170,000 injuries in Gaza; millions displaced and facing starvation (00:57).

2. Secrecy and Stakes in Sharm El Sheikh

• Confidentiality defines the current round of negotiations, with uncertainty about how close the parties are to a deal (01:23).
• Focus: Immediate ceasefire, hostage/prisoner exchanges, and long-term governance/security in postwar Gaza.

3. President Trump’s Role and Approach

• Trump’s administration claims credit for advancing the closest peace proposal yet, featuring intensive U.S. involvement rarely seen before (03:13).
• Trump's proposal is a 20-point, multi-phase plan that’s “short on some details, but the very first thing that would happen is fighting would stop” (03:55 – Michael Birnbaum).

- Trump’s Tactics and Pressure:

• Trump has exerted more pressure on Israeli PM Netanyahu “than President Biden was willing to do in his term” (07:51 – Birnbaum).
• Trump publicly scolded Netanyahu after an Israeli strike on Hamas leadership in Doha, causing diplomatic tension with Qatar (09:22).
• Forced Netanyahu to apologize to Qatar—"kind of a humiliation for the Israelis" (11:20 – Birnbaum).

Notable Quote:
“Trump has basically boxed the Israelis in and not focused too much on the details. He just wants peace. He wants a deal.”
— Michael Birnbaum (13:13)

4. Contents of the Peace Proposal

• Phase One:

  • Ceasefire; partial Israeli withdrawal from Gaza; Hamas to release Israeli hostages and remains; Israel to release Palestinian prisoners; surge in humanitarian aid (03:55).
  • ~20 living Israeli hostages remain, plus the remains of 28 (04:42).
  • Dispute: Which side acts first in the exchange—Israel demands hostages first, Hamas demands troop withdrawal first, citing lack of trust (06:15–07:26).

• Phase Two:

  • Israel’s full withdrawal, Hamas’ disarmament, technocratic Palestinian administration for Gaza’s civil affairs (04:53).

Notable Quote:
“There was this idea earlier in the year from Trump of basically bulldozing the whole thing … that’s off the table now. It would just be a Palestinian territory for Palestinians.”
— Michael Birnbaum (05:44)

5. On-The-Ground Negotiations and Key Players

• At the table: Senior Hamas official Khalil Al Haya (survived last month’s Israeli strike, son killed), Israeli adviser Ron Dermer, and soon Trump envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner (18:15–18:49).
• Initial meetings show “most of the first phase terms” agreed upon, especially on hostages and ceasefire—but logistics (e.g., 72-hour deadline for releases) remain challenges (19:13–20:28).

6. Core Remaining Sticking Points

• Future of Hamas:
  • Israel insists Hamas must not survive as a military or political force; Hamas is not ready to dismantle itself (21:59–22:49).
• Governance and Statehood:
  • People in Gaza want fighting to end, food, medicine, and basic autonomy—technocratic governance may be acceptable to many, absent Hamas (22:52–23:18).
  • Roadmap includes ambiguity about Palestinian statehood, allowing both sides to interpret it optimistically for their agendas (23:40–24:44).

7. Risks if Talks Fail

• If negotiations break down:
  • Israel “will escalate,” prepping another offensive on Gaza City (24:51).
  • Trump, seeking to pressure Hamas, says he’ll “let the Israelis do what they’re going to do” if no deal is reached (25:22).

Memorable Quotes & Moments

• On Mistrust:

  “Both sides in this case, they don't trust each other. Neither side wants to be the ones to go first out of some fear that maybe the other side won't hold up their end of the bargain.”
  — Colby Kowitz (07:01)

• On Trump’s Pressure:

  “Netanyahu is clearly more concerned about Trump, the future of American support for Israel than he was about Biden.”
  — Michael Birnbaum (14:15)

• On Gaza’s Immediate Needs:

  “I think that the people of Gaza want the fighting to stop, and they want food, they want medicine, they want a basic ability to live.”
  — Michael Birnbaum (22:52)

Timestamps for Important Segments

• Background and Current Scene: 00:02–01:56
• What’s in Trump’s Plan: 03:19–06:15
• Why this Round is Different: 07:36–08:51
• Trump’s Pressure and Netanyahu’s Response: 08:54–13:13
• Negotiators at the Table: 17:45–18:49
• Progress and sticking points on logistics: 19:13–20:28
• Discussion of disarmament and Gaza’s future: 21:59–24:44
• Risk if talks fail: 24:44–25:22

Final Thoughts

This episode gives a comprehensive, ground-level look at the secretive and pivotal peace talks underway in Egypt between Israel and Hamas, scrutinizes Trump’s unorthodox diplomatic playbook, and highlights the urgent humanitarian context in Gaza. The reporting underscores just how fragile the process is—and how much hinges on political will, international pressure, and, most critically, trust between deeply hostile parties.

Summary prepared for listeners seeking a full understanding of this crucial turning point in the Israel-Gaza conflict.