In the annals of diplomacy and deal-making, few figures loom as large as Donald J. Trump. The current US president has long touted his mastery of the “Art of the Deal,” and this week, he has once again proven his acumen.
By leveraging America’s unparalleled resources and his personal relationships across the Middle East, Trump has brokered a historic agreement that promises to end the Israel-Hamas War, dismantle Iran’s nuclear ambitions, and secure the release of hostages held captive since the horrors of October 7, 2023. It’s a triumph that has the world buzzing, with headlines hailing Trump as the peacemaker-in-chief.
Yet, as we celebrate this breakthrough, we must peel back the layers of this complex narrative.
Trump may have closed the deal, but it was Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, affectionately known as Bibi, and the brave men and women of the IDF, along with the shadowy operatives of the Mossad and Shin Bet (Israel Security Agency), who paved the arduous road to this point. Over the past two years, their relentless efforts, often at great personal and national cost, created the conditions for Trump’s opportunistic strike. To overlook their sacrifices would be a grave injustice.
Consider the timeline of Israel’s strategic dismantling of its adversaries. It began in the wake of Hamas’s barbaric attack on October 7, 2023, which claimed some 1,200 Israeli lives and saw more than 250 hostages dragged into Gaza. In response, Jerusalem launched a multifaceted campaign that targeted not just Hamas but the broader axis of terror encircling the nation.
Israel's multifaceted response
The IDF’s ground operations in Gaza, coupled with precision airstrikes, systematically eroded Hamas’s military capabilities. Hundreds of Israeli soldiers paid the ultimate price in these battles, their heroism forging the path toward victory.
Still, Israel’s success wasn’t limited to the battlefield. Mossad and Shin Bet operatives, living undercover in enemy territory, executed operations that defy the imagination, missions whose details will likely remain classified for generations. Who can forget the ingenious “pager operation” that neutralized Hezbollah operatives en masse? Or the daring strike that eliminated Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah and his inner circle, buried deep in a Beirut bunker? These weren’t flukes; they were the culmination of meticulous intelligence work.
The campaign extended further. Israel took out key Hamas figures, including those sheltered in Iran under the protection of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. The elimination of Yahya Sinwar, Hamas’s Gaza chief who masterminded the October 7 massacre, marked a turning point.
Then came the audacious moves against Iran itself: bombing air defenses, nuclear facilities, and leadership targets in a matter of hours. In a stunning display of air superiority, Israel owned Iranian airspace for three full days, exposing the regime’s vulnerabilities like never before.
These actions weren’t random; they were a deliberate strategy to isolate Gaza. By neutralizing threats from Hezbollah in the north and Iran in the east, Israel could refocus its energies on Hamas’s stronghold. Netanyahu and his closest advisers, despite facing global criticism, targeted Hamas leaders even in neutral havens like Qatar. This pressure campaign forced fractures in the terror network, setting the stage for negotiations.
Enter Trump
Enter Trump, the consummate deal-maker, who spotted a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. With Iran’s defenses in tatters and its leadership reeling, Trump coordinated with Netanyahu to deliver the final blow: a decisive strike on Iran’s nuclear program, effectively ending the threat that has loomed over the region for decades.
But credit where it’s due, Bibi absorbed the boos and insults, from hostage families protesting in Tel Aviv’s squares to world leaders decrying Israel’s tactics. He did the dirty work, enduring political isolation at home and abroad, all while Trump’s intervention reaped the glory.
The deal’s intricacies reveal even deeper layers of Israeli groundwork. Trump’s agreement reportedly includes US protections for Qatar, contingent on Doha’s “good behavior,” namely, pressuring remaining Hamas elements to release hostages and sue for peace.
This isn’t charity; Qatar owes a debt to Netanyahu for creating the leverage that made such a pact possible. The Gulf state, ever wary of its aggressive neighbors like Iran, now has American security guarantees, a shield against existential threats far graver than Israel’s targeted operations.
In truth, Qatar’s role underscores the broader dynamics at play. By eliminating Hamas’s leadership and preparing to fully secure Gaza, Israel handed Trump a steal of a deal. The window was narrow, but Trump’s relationships with the Israeli prime minister, Arab leaders, and even adversaries allowed him to seize it. The result was hostages returning home, Hamas on its knees, and a Middle East inching toward stability.
The true heroes
As we reflect on this achievement, let’s honor all who contributed. The unnamed Mossad agents who risked and continue to risk everything in hostile lands, the IDF soldiers who fell in defense of their homeland, and the Shin Bet operatives whose silent vigilance saved countless lives. Yes, a special thank you goes to President Trump for his bold intervention. But let’s not forget Netanyahu, the architect who weathered the storms to build this foundation.
In the end, true peace isn’t forged by one deal-maker alone; it’s the product of collective resolve, sacrifice, and unyielding determination. Now, we see the outer picture of triumph, but we must be thankful to Israel’s leadership, who made the daily heavy decisions as visionaries, helping pave the way to the current victory over Hamas and the release of the hostages.
The writer is the founder and CEO of the Orthodox Jewish Chamber of Commerce, a global umbrella of businesses bridging the business and governmental worlds, stimulating economic opportunity, and positively affecting public policy of governments.