Trump's Pressure Crucial in Hostage Deal, New Book Claims

Donald Trump's looming presidency exerted significant pressure on Israel-Hamas negotiations for hostage releases in the critical period before his January 2025 inauguration, according to a new book by Brett McGurk, a senior advisor to then-US President Joe Biden. McGurk's book, "Brink: Inside the Race to Free the October 7th Hostages," details how Steve Witkoff, Trump's designated Middle East envoy, repeatedly warned Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his negotiation team that delaying the talks could provoke Trump's anger.

The book reveals an unprecedented collaboration between the outgoing Biden administration and the incoming Trump administration. McGurk began working closely with Witkoff after Trump's November 2024 election victory. The negotiations, mediated by the US, Egypt, and Qatar, aimed to secure the release of the 251 Israeli hostages taken by Hamas on October 7, 2023.

Despite an initial ceasefire in November 2023 that freed 105 hostages for 240 Palestinian prisoners, the deal collapsed. McGurk dedicated the remainder of Biden's term to reviving it. The book identifies Hamas as the primary obstacle, particularly its refusal to provide a list of hostages it was willing to release. However, some Israeli negotiators reportedly attributed the prolonged war to Netanyahu's political considerations.

In May 2024, the US proposed a phased deal, starting with the release of women, the elderly, and critically ill hostages during a six-week ceasefire. This was to be followed by negotiations for the second phase, involving the release of remaining hostages in exchange for a full Israeli withdrawal and an end to the war. Following Hamas's execution of six hostages in late August 2024, McGurk concluded that no agreement was possible while Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar was alive; Sinwar was killed by Israeli forces about six weeks later.

After Trump's election, McGurk contacted Jared Kushner, Trump's senior advisor, for assistance. Trump himself later publicly demanded Hamas release the hostages by his inauguration day, threatening severe consequences if they failed. McGurk found Trump's firm deadline helpful, noting that such tactics could be beneficial in negotiations.

In early January 2025, Hamas finally provided a list of hostages it would release but demanded 300 Palestinian prisoners, including those serving life sentences for deadly attacks, and a significant expansion of the initial IDF withdrawal from Gaza. McGurk and Witkoff met with Qatari Prime Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani, who believed he could broker a compromise for 110 prisoners and a 700-meter Israeli withdrawal. Witkoff, dismissing the details as "bullshit," urged immediate pressure on Netanyahu.

During a tense January 11 meeting, Netanyahu resisted the proposed terms. Witkoff, however, pressed hard, stating, "We are closing this deal tomorrow with 110 lifers. If you want to fight now over ten or twenty prisoners, you will never get the hostages. Come on." McGurk offered a political lifeline: a letter from President Biden granting Israel the right to resume the war if Hamas negotiated in bad faith, with Witkoff assuring Trump's support.

Netanyahu found the letter politically helpful, but internal opposition arose. Witkoff then directly challenged Netanyahu, asking if he wanted to call Trump himself. When Netanyahu blamed hardliners in his cabinet, Witkoff questioned the rationale for leaving hostages in tunnels for an extended period over minor territorial concessions.

Later that night, Witkoff informed McGurk that Netanyahu had agreed to the terms. The updated Israeli offer was sent to Hamas, which responded positively after Witkoff threatened to inform Trump of Qatar and Egypt's failure to deliver. The deal was celebrated, with then-Shin Bet head Ronen Bar and then-Mossad head David Barnea participating in a toast.

However, the agreement nearly collapsed the next morning when Netanyahu added a new condition: Israel's prior approval of the names of the 110 released prisoners. A furious Witkoff confronted Bar, who defended the condition as coming from the Prime Minister. Witkoff threatened to tell Trump that Israelis didn't care about the hostages, leading to a heated exchange where Bar warned Witkoff had crossed a line.

After a brief recess, Bar announced that the deal was proceeding. The first hostages were released on January 19, Biden's last full day in office. McGurk acknowledged Trump and Witkoff's crucial roles but also emphasized that objective conditions on the ground, such as the killing of Sinwar and the weakening of Hezbollah, had fundamentally shifted the regional balance of power, accelerating the path to an agreement.

In a conversation with Zman Israel, McGurk addressed criticism about the book's limited focus on Palestinian suffering in Gaza, stating that the core issue was ending the crisis by stopping the war and returning the hostages, which were inextricably linked. He also recounted a call from Biden expressing concern about internal party politics potentially jeopardizing the hostage deal and risking a wider regional war.