Europe (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – Trump meets Netanyahu on Gaza truce; Israel demands hostages, Hamas threatens halt. Trump credited for Israel-Iran ceasefire, India-Pakistan calm, Serbia-Kosovo, Rwanda-Congo, Armenia-Azerbaijan, Thailand-Cambodia deals.
As Midland Daily News reported, U.S. President Donald Trump meet Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu this week at the White House. The leaders discuss next steps in the Gaza truce that began on October 10, 2025. Israel demands the release of all hostage remains before phase 2. Hamas threatens to stop the deal over limited aid and ongoing strikes that kill Palestinians.
What role did Trump play in Gaza, Israel-Iran and 6 global deals?
Officials mentioned that permanent solutions appear further away than ever, and disarming Hamas is the most important issue on this agenda. The UN international peacekeeping force must be deployed to Gaza.
Gaza must be ruled by new leaders, and Israel must cut its ties to the rubble that is Gaza. The United States wants to build upon the momentum created by the ceasefire that is now mostly holding.
President Trump is taking credit for ending the 12-day Israel-Iran conflict. Israel attacked Iranian nuclear sites and leaders to stop the production of weapons in June, and Iran has categorically denied the accusation. American planes attacked Fordo, Isfahan, and Natanz before a ceasefire was implemented after President Trump’s ultimatum.
Authorities have issued a lukewarm endorsement of the developments related to the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam on the Blue Nile. According to Evelyn Farkas from Arizona State University’s McCain Institute, substantial strides have been made toward a peaceful resolution to the dispute over the dam that will not end until after the actions taken by Donald Trump as President of the United States to alleviate tensions between the 2 countries were enacted.
Lawrence Haas, of the American Foreign Policy Council, characterised the dam issue as having created a new level of “Cold War” with Ethiopia rather than a resolution. Egypt was dependent on the Nile River for agricultural production, while Sudan was concerned that flooding caused by the dam would negatively impact its own dam system.
During his first term president Trump pushed to broker a deal but was unsuccessful. Currently, there is mediation taking place, but without U.S. leadership. Egypt is seeking a binding water agreement; Ethiopia wants their share, too.
Tensions between India and Pakistan rose after the killing of 3 tourists in Jammu & Kashmir this past April. Shelling, airstrikes, and missile attacks occurred for several days before a ceasefire agreement was reached after a series of phone calls to discuss the situation between the Chiefs of Staff.
President Trump has stated that the agreements with Pakistan were reached based on the commitment of the U.S. to trade with them. Pakistan has expressed gratitude for this commitment, while the government of India has denied the U.S. involvement, stating that there is no link between trade and their ceasefire agreement.
Outside analysts have noted that while Washington played a role in the financial relationship between Pakistan and India, the overall package of assistance could not be characterised as a true declaration of war.
According to the White House, President Trump negotiated an end to the conflict between Serbia and Kosovo and that there will not be a new war between the 2 nations while he is president. Kosovo became independent from Serbia in 2008, and NATO is currently providing peacekeeping forces in Kosovo as well as support from over 100 nations.
The U.S. has no active role in regional tensions this year as they are handled by other nations. Trump’s administration established trade relationships through the development of transportation (roads, railroads, and airways) between countries. However, no progress was made toward developing full diplomatic ties between Serbia and Kosovo.
President Trump also attempted to broker peace between Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) through a series of peace agreements. The M23 rebels, supported by Rwanda, continue to fight in eastern DRC due to the country’s mineral wealth. Rwanda has stated that it continues to have interests in the DRC as it pertains to border security, as well as to locating individuals who were involved in the 1994 Rwandan genocide.
The U.S. Secretary of State and the U.S. Secretary of Defence signed a set of agreements in June 2016 at the White House, and it was not until December 2016 that the Presidents of both nations signed the agreements, while President Trump testified about them to Congress.
The M23 rebels did not sign the agreement, despite being the main participants. They seized control of a major city in eastern DRC, only to abandon it a few weeks later. Qatar is supporting the M23 with a separate agreement; however, there are numerous violations of the ceasefire agreement.
Armenia and Azerbaijan signed a preliminary agreement regarding the Nagorno-Karabakh Region at a meeting at the White House in August 2016, which was facilitated by President Trump. The agreement resolves the longstanding hostilities between both nations that began during the 1990s and over the territory of Nagorno-Karabakh and surrounding areas. Azerbaijan took control of most of the territory from Armenia during the Second Nagorno-Karabakh War in 2020 and regained control of the remaining territory in the military offensive of 2023.
Foreign ministers initialled the treaty text. Parliaments and leaders must ratify. It reopens routes and sets peace vows. U.S. gets “Trump Route” build rights plus energy, trade and AI ties. Thailand and Cambodia clashed this summer over border temples like Preah Vihear. Worst in a decade.
Trump warned of a trade halt. A detailed October pact followed. Heavy fights returned in early December. Malaysia sought a ceasefire first. Leaders signed anew on December 27. Ken Lohatepanont of the University of Michigan credits Trump’s trade push for talks.
