President Donald Trump on Monday presented a sweeping 20-point Gaza peace plan, earning measured support from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who nevertheless warned that Israel was prepared to “finish the job” against Hamas if the group rejected the proposal.
The plan, revealed at a White House press conference, outlines a ceasefire, the release of hostages, the disarmament of Hamas, and a phased Israeli withdrawal from Gaza. It also calls for the deployment of a temporary international stabilization force and the establishment of a transitional authority led by Trump, with participation from foreign leaders.
Key provisions include an amnesty for Hamas members who renounce violence, while those refusing disarmament would be excluded from governance. Unlike earlier proposals, Palestinians would not be displaced from Gaza. “We will encourage people to stay and offer them the opportunity to build a better Gaza,” the document stated.
Netanyahu endorsed the framework as aligned with Israel’s war objectives, but insisted Israeli forces would maintain security control in Gaza “for the foreseeable future.” He also ruled out governance by either Hamas or the Palestinian Authority.
Trump, meanwhile, expressed optimism, claiming approval from all sides was “beyond very close.” Still, Hamas has yet to respond, and major uncertainties remain over implementation.
The US president has grown increasingly impatient with Netanyahu, despite their long-standing alliance. He recently criticized an Israeli strike in Qatar, a close US partner, and warned Netanyahu against annexing the West Bank, a move pushed by far-right members of Israel’s governing coalition.
In Gaza, Israeli strikes killed at least four people in Khan Yunis on Monday, according to local authorities. Families of Israeli hostages urged Trump to advance the proposal, while residents of Gaza voiced skepticism about the deal.
The ongoing war, sparked by Hamas’s October 7, 2023 assault that killed 1,219 people in Israel, has claimed the lives of 66,055 Palestinians, mostly civilians, according to figures from Gaza’s health ministry cited by the United Nations.
What you should know
Trump’s Gaza peace plan introduces his most ambitious attempt yet to end the conflict, offering Palestinians a chance to rebuild without displacement and granting Israel security guarantees.
Netanyahu has cautiously backed the plan, but Hamas’s silence, coupled with Israeli far-right opposition, underscores the steep challenges ahead.
