President Donald Trump's approach to pursuing a ceasefire in Gaza was driven by real estate developers, including Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner. Robert Costa examines a non-traditional take on foreign policy.

Jerusalem

Israel and Iran have agreed a ceasefire after a twelve day conflict. Meanwhile, Israel strikes in Gaza continue with the humanitarian crisis deepening.

Middle East Conflict

President Trump's peace deal regarding Gaza was heavily influenced by his background in real estate and his preference for involving trusted business associates. Jared Kushner, Trump's son-in-law, and Steve Whitkoff, both experienced real estate developers, played central roles in the negotiations, working closely with regional leaders and the president himself.

Rather than relying solely on traditional diplomatic channels, Kushner and Whitkoff conducted much of their work from their homes in Florida, coordinating with countries such as Israel, Turkey, Qatar, and Egypt. The process underscores Trump's tendency to favor dealmakers in high-stakes international matters, though the agreement faces ongoing challenges as regional leaders work to maintain peace.

The real estate developers behind Trump's Gaza deal

This is Robert Costa in Washington. If you really want to understand President Trump's peace deal, don't think about traditional foreign policy. Think about New York real estate. New York has always had the world's tallest building until very recently. That world, the art of the deal, big buildings and big personalities, reveals a lot about how this all came together. If this all works out, we think it will. Sources close to the president tell Sunday Morning that just like he did back in the 80s and 90s, this time Trump wanted family and trusted business types at his side. I want to personally thank both of you. And for this high-stakes project, that's what happened. Trump's son-in-law, Jared Kushner, and Trump's special envoy, Steve Whitkoff, both longtime real estate developers, played key roles. Their business here was unusual, to say the least. Whitkoff and Kushner both first worked not from the State Department, but from their homes in Florida, making calls to Israel and other nations in the region, such as Turkey, Qatar, and Egypt, all as they tracked statements from Hamas and kept Trump informed. And then there was a breakthrough. We're very close to a deal in the Middle East. For Americans and for others, it's another reminder of how Trump operates. He works closely with the secretary of state and other officials, but he sometimes wants dealmakers to drive the process, which has many challenges ahead as leaders of Israel and Hamas navigate this fragile peace. When asked if he is confident that this agreement will hold, the president briefly told Sunday Morning, yes, very much so.

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The real estate developers behind Trump's Gaza deal

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