Can Trump turn a Gaza ceasefire into a lasting peace deal?
Americast
BBC
4.2 • 2.8K Ratings
🗓️ 9 October 2025
⏱️ 20 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
There was an extraordinary moment at the White House on Wednesday when, in front of reporters, secretary of state Marco Rubio handed Donald Trump a note that read the words “very close”, followed by a whisper where he told the president that Israel and Hamas were on the brink of reaching a Gaza ceasefire agreement.
Although there are many details of the plan still being worked on, this could potentially be a pivotal moment. Posting on Truth Social, the president said that all Israeli hostages held in Gaza would be released soon in exchange for Palestinian prisoners and detainees held in Israel.
In today’s podcast, Sarah and Anthony discuss Donald Trump’s role in the process, how much credit he can personally take, and what it tells us about US foreign policy.
HOSTS: • Sarah Smith, North America Editor • Anthony Zurcher, North America correspondent
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This episode was made by George Dabby and Alix Pickles. The technical producer was Mike Regaard. The series producer is Purvee Pattni. The senior news editor is Sam Bonham.
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Transcript
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| 0:00.0 | BBC Sounds, Music, Radio, podcasts. |
| 0:05.7 | Donald Trump says Israel and Hamas have agreed to the first phase of his Gaza ceasefire deal. |
| 0:11.7 | This is potentially an enormous moment. |
| 0:15.2 | But it's also rather thin on detail, and the way forward to both sides remains unclear at the moment. |
| 0:20.8 | So how did we get |
| 0:21.7 | here? What happens next? And could this deal be Donald Trump's lasting legacy in the Middle East? |
| 0:28.2 | Welcome to AmeriCast. |
| 0:32.4 | AmeriCast from BBC News. When Donald Trump calls, they say, yes, sir, right away, sir. |
| 0:38.9 | Happy to lick your boot, sir. |
| 0:40.7 | We are the sickest country in the world. |
| 0:43.2 | Oh, dear. |
| 0:43.9 | Are you worried that billionaires are going to go hungry? |
| 0:46.7 | Of course the president supports peaceful protest. |
| 0:48.7 | What a stupid question. |
| 0:49.7 | Are you still talking about Jeffrey Epstein? |
| 0:58.6 | Thank you. Are you still talking about Jeffrey Epstein? Hello, it is Sarah here in the BBC's Bureau in Washington. |
| 1:02.0 | And it's Anthony, right next to Sarah here in Washington. |
| 1:04.7 | And this is where I was yesterday, Anthony, when Donald Trump was doing that televised event in the White House that was about |
| 1:11.7 | left-wing extremists, and he was there with his Attorney General, Pam Bondi, who was talking |
| 1:16.3 | about law enforcement. As she was speaking, Markerubio, the Secretary of State, was actually |
| 1:21.7 | leaning over and passing Donald Trump a scribbled note and whispering in his ear, and this is what we also |
| 1:28.7 | inherited. |
... |
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