During his meeting today with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, U.S. President Donald Trump stated that he would have “good news” regarding Gaza soon. He indicated that the recent U.S. strike on Iran had significantly contributed to progress in the Gaza Strip and would help facilitate the release of hostages held by Hamas.

Some observers may view these remarks as an attempt by Trump to reinforce the strongman image he has projected to the international media over the past two days: first, by “completing the mission” by striking Iranian nuclear facilities and temporarily eliminating the threat of an “Iranian bomb,” and then by compelling Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to commit to a ceasefire agreement reached with the Iranian regime. Now, Trump appears to be turning his attention to Gaza, aiming to end the longest war in Israel’s history, resolve the ongoing humanitarian catastrophe, and force Hamas to release the hostages.

Despite the theatrical tone that often characterizes Trump’s performance and his tendency to claim every “achievement” as his own, his current remarks regarding Gaza are likely grounded in new developments—factors he believes he can leverage to achieve the long-awaited breakthrough in halting the war. One such factor is the possibility of using Israel’s recent military superiority and Iran’s diminished nuclear capabilities as bargaining chips in negotiations with Hamas—especially given that the movement, which has long relied on Iranian support, is now witnessing the collapse of its backers under Israeli strikes.

More importantly, the Israeli military campaign against Iran has given Netanyahu greater political maneuverability regarding Gaza. That campaign has strengthened his political standing to the extent that he now has the leverage to challenge his far-right coalition partners and potentially shift his approach to the Gaza war. For over a year, Netanyahu resisted a truce with Hamas out of fear that doing so would collapse his right-wing coalition and trigger early elections, which he was likely to lose. Now, following the strike on Iran and his success in persuading Trump to target key Iranian nuclear sites, Netanyahu possesses the political capital necessary to change course—while basking in the popularity boost from the campaign against Iran.

In fact, Netanyahu’s approval ratings have reached their highest point since the war on Gaza began in October 2023. With this newfound strength, he may now be in a position to broker a deal and end the war in Gaza without fearing the collapse of his government or the loss of his office.

Taken together, these developments suggest that Trump’s chances of reaching a deal on Gaza may be relatively greater now than at any previous point.