The Ben Shapiro Show
Episode 2294: THE PEACE PRESIDENT: Trump Brokers Israel-Hamas HOSTAGE RELEASE, Ceasefire
Date: October 9, 2025
Host: Ben Shapiro (The Daily Wire)
Overview
This episode centers on the landmark peace deal in the Middle East brokered by President Donald J. Trump between Israel and Hamas, resulting in a phased hostage release and a fragile ceasefire after two years of war. Ben Shapiro provides an extensive breakdown of the diplomatic, military, and regional shifts that made the deal possible and argues that Trump deserves the Nobel Peace Prize. The episode also touches on controversies involving Hasan Piker and Congresswoman Katie Porter, but is dominated by the historic developments concerning Israel and Gaza.
Key Discussion Points
1. Trump Brokering a Middle East Peace Deal
- Announcement: President Trump has overseen a "phase one" deal for the full-scale release of 20 living hostages held by Hamas in exchange for prisoner releases and initial Israeli troop withdrawal from parts of Gaza ([00:46]).
- Deal Details:
- 20 living Israeli hostages to be released by Monday, possibly sooner.
- Hamas claims not to possess all bodies of the 28 deceased hostages; needs more time to locate them.
- Israel to release 250 Palestinian prisoners held in Israel and 1,700 detained in Gaza.
- Israel to withdraw to pre-set lines inside Gaza but maintains security boundaries and provisional government plans.
- Rafah crossing to reopen for humanitarian aid, though with acknowledged risks.
- Significance:
- Shapiro frames this as an enormous diplomatic and national victory for Israel, achieved by unwavering resolve and military might.
- The full release of hostages removes Hamas' leverage and is seen as a crucial first step to "everlasting peace."
2. Regional and International Reactions
- Israeli Response: PM Netanyahu thanks Trump for his leadership and "unwavering commitment" ([06:54]).
- Arab World: Even Qatar's Al Jazeera editorialized in favor of Hamas disarmament, signaling a shift in the region ([05:27]).
- Hamas Statement: Announced signing the agreement but attempted to overstate its terms, projecting victory and calling for U.S. and international oversight ([09:45]).
- Media/PR Dimension: Shapiro highlights sustained anti-Israel narratives in global media and accuses left-wing activists of prioritizing symbolism over substance ([43:10]).
3. Trump & Middle East Diplomacy — A Paradigm Shift
- Peace Through Strength: Shapiro lauds Trump's understanding that in the Middle East, "concessions are seen generally as a sign of weakness," and that peace emerges from demonstrating strength, not through appeasement ([10:30]).
- Quote (Shapiro):
"Trump inherently understands the Middle East in a way that Westerners typically do not. He understands that in the Middle East, power rules." ([11:15]). - Trump's Nobel Peace Prize?
Shapiro ridicules the Nobel Committee for not honoring Trump for this deal, comparing past recipients (“Greta Thunberg, Yasser Arafat”) and calling for the body’s disbandment if Trump is passed over ([14:25]).
4. Crucial Military Developments Leading to the Deal
- Iranian Nuclear Program Neutralized: Trump highlights the role of a U.S. airstrike on Iran’s Natanz facility as pivotal ([23:00]):
- Quote (Trump):
“If I allowed [Iran to go nuclear], this deal would not have been possible. ... Now there are no dark clouds. We’re going to have peace.”
- Quote (Trump):
- IDF Campaign: Shapiro details the military timeline: elimination of enemy leadership (Hamas, Hezbollah, regime in Syria); the “beeper” attack against Hezbollah; and stepwise removal of terrorist infrastructure and support throughout 2024–2025 ([24:19]–[37:50]).
- Biden vs. Trump Diplomatic Pressure:
- Shapiro blames the previous Biden administration (“gave life to Hamas”) for public-relations lifelines and withheld support ([38:45]), crediting Trump for reversing this dynamic by backing Israel unapologetically.
- The final tipping point was Israel's willingness to target Hamas leadership even in Qatar and Trump’s strategic use of both carrot (security promises, F-35 sales) and stick (military pressure).
5. Broader Implications and the Future of Gaza
- Next Steps: Phase two and three are uncertain; Hamas’ future in Gaza is “untenable.” There may be a provisional international authority (possibly under Tony Blair) and reconstruction funded by Arab countries ([16:51]).
- Quote (Trump):
“Gaza is going to be a peaceful, much safer place. ... We’ll be involved in helping them make it successful and helping it stay peaceful.” ([16:51]) - Public Mood in Israel:
Hostage release is “ecstatic” news, providing relief after prolonged national trauma ([15:52]). - Warning: Shapiro insists that only “peace through strength” can work, not appeasement—otherwise, violence will return.
6. Contrast with Western Protests and Left-Wing Narratives
- Pro-Hamas Demonstrations: Shapiro plays ABC coverage of violence at U.S. protests marking the war’s anniversary ([42:24]) and critiques Western activists (“luxury belief” leftists) who, he argues, do not genuinely care about Palestinians ([44:00]).
- Critique of Greta Thunberg: Trump and Shapiro both deride her, with Trump calling her “just a troublemaker” with “an anger management problem” ([46:48]).
- Quote (Trump):
"She's just a troublemaker, you know. … She needs anger management." ([46:48])
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
- Ben Shapiro (on the deal):
"The President of the United States deserves full marks for this.” ([02:10]) - President Trump (on brokering the deal):
“It's a great honor to be involved in it. … The world has come together around this deal.” ([12:57]) - Trump (on Iran strike):
“If they had a nuclear weapon, there would be a whole different deal. … Now there are no dark clouds. We're going to have peace.” ([23:00])
Timestamps by Segment
| Time | Topic | |-----------|-----------------------------------------------------------------------| | 00:46 | Overview & details of Israel-Hamas deal | | 02:10 | Israel, U.S., and regional player reactions | | 06:54 | Netanyahu's statement of thanks to Trump | | 09:45 | Hamas statement, implications for the ceasefire | | 10:30 | Shapiro on Trump’s understanding of Middle East politics | | 12:57 | Trump (via Hannity interview) on brokering the deal | | 14:14 | Shapiro argues for a Nobel Peace Prize for Trump | | 15:17 | Trump on hostages' imminent release | | 16:51 | Trump on Gaza’s hopeful future | | 19:19 | Trump and Arab coalition building | | 23:00 | Trump details the Natanz strike in Iran | | 24:19 | Shapiro’s recap: what changed since Oct 2023—military/diplomatic steps| | 38:45 | Shapiro details Biden vs. Trump policy on Israel | | 42:24 | ABC News segment on worldwide protests/violence | | 46:48 | Trump and Shapiro on Greta Thunberg |
Additional Topics
Media & Culture
- Hasan Piker Controversy:
Shapiro discusses Hasan Piker’s alleged mistreatment of his dog on-stream, using expert advice to cast doubt on Piker’s defense ([47:12]). - Katie Porter Walkout:
Shapiro features audio of Rep. Katie Porter exiting an interview after being asked about winning Republican voters—calls her and Democrats "spoiled brats" for not tolerating scrutiny ([55:26]).
Summary & Tone
The episode is fast-paced, pointed, and unapologetically conservative. Shapiro’s tone is celebratory regarding Trump and Israel, contemptuous toward Western pro-Palestinian activists, the left, and adversaries he deems “luxury belief” radicals. The historical context is thorough and the military-diplomatic timeline is central to understanding why peace was achieved now, not earlier. Key moments are provided directly from Trump via interview clips, with Shapiro’s analysis and editorializing throughout.
Conclusion
Listeners are left with a sense of historical watershed—both for Israel and the broader Middle East—crediting Trump’s “peace through strength” approach and an aggressive Israeli military campaign for an outcome Shapiro sees as vindication of conservative principles. The episode moves quickly from geopolitics to cultural commentary, but remains anchored in the major news of the unprecedented peace deal.