Axios: Trump promised Hamas he’d stop Israel from breaking Gaza ceasefire

President Donald Trump personally intervened to secure a Gaza ceasefire and the release of hostages, U.S. officials said Friday, providing assurances that were pivotal in convincing Hamas to accept the deal. The ceasefire was formally approved on the morning of October 10 by the Israeli cabinet.

According to U.S. sources, referenced by Axios, Trump’s guarantee included the creation of a U.S.-led military task force to monitor the ceasefire and respond to any violations, signalling Washington’s commitment to enforcing the agreement.

The task force, which will include personnel from Egypt, Qatar, Türkiye, and the United Arab Emirates, will not operate inside Gaza but will oversee compliance from neighbouring areas.

Under the terms of the agreement, the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) must withdraw to an agreed perimeter inside Gaza within 24 hours of the cabinet vote.

Following this withdrawal, Hamas has 72 hours to release all remaining hostages, approximately 20 of whom are still alive. In exchange, Israel is expected to release nearly 2,000 Palestinian prisoners, completing the first phase of U.S. President Trump’s 20-point peace plan.

“Hamas agreed to the deal only when it felt the sword around its neck. And it is still on it,” Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said during a nationwide address. He added that the agreement came after Trump’s plan “isolated [Hamas] internationally in an unprecedented way,” and emphasised that Israel’s immediate priority is the release of hostages.

The breakthrough came after careful coordination between U.S. envoys Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff and regional mediators from Egypt, Qatar, and Türkiye. Ahead of the negotiations, Trump asked Kushner and Witkoff to assess the likelihood of a deal. Kushner reportedly replied, “100%,” prompting Trump to ask how he could be so certain. Kushner responded, “Because we can’t afford to fail.”

Upon arrival in the region, the U.S. envoys communicated directly with mediators and Hamas, delivering the message that Trump stood fully behind each element of his plan and would ensure its implementation. “There was a great deal of mistrust between the sides, and the president wanted to make it clear that this deal was very important to him, that he wanted to end the carnage and wanted to make sure everyone understood he would enforce good conduct,” a U.S. official said.

The ceasefire deal includes plans for an “international stabilisation force” (ISF) to move into areas vacated by Israeli forces, with deployment expected over several months. U.S. officials said that after the ISF is in place, efforts will begin to dismantle Gaza’s military installations and heavy weapons.

Trump has been directly involved in the negotiations, making at least three calls to various interlocutors to provide assurances. The U.S. team originally aimed to conclude a deal by the end of the week, but key issues were resolved on October 8, when Kushner and Witkoff confirmed that the agreement was ready to announce shortly after 1 a.m. local time on Thursday. Trump later announced the deal on Truth Social.

“This arrangement strengthens confidence that the ceasefire will be upheld, backed by the U.S. monitoring mechanism,” a U.S. official said. Around 200 American soldiers and officers will participate in the multinational task force, which will work alongside military personnel from the Arab and Muslim states involved.

The first phase of the Trump plan, involving the release of hostages and a partial withdrawal of Israeli troops, is intended to create space for further steps toward stabilising Gaza. U.S. officials indicated that the momentum of the deal could also help expand the Abraham Accords.

Kushner and Witkoff will remain in the region over the coming days to oversee implementation, coordinating with Israeli officials, monitoring the IDF withdrawal, and ensuring the timely release of hostages and Palestinian prisoners.

“The U.S. is committed to making sure all parties honour their obligations and that any misunderstandings are quickly addressed,” the official said. The administration views the agreement as a historic step toward ending hostilities in Gaza and establishing a framework for longer-term peace in the region.

By Tamilla Hasanova