WASHINGTON D.C., United States — European and Middle Eastern leaders have largely welcomed a new 20-point peace plan for Gaza unveiled by US President Donald Trump, who issued an ultimatum to Hamas to accept the terms immediately.
The proposal, which was agreed upon with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, calls for an immediate cessation of hostilities and lays out a framework for the post-war governance of the territory.
The plan proposes an immediate end to fighting, the release within 72 hours of 20 living Israeli hostages held by Hamas as well as the remains of the more than two dozen hostages who are believed to be dead – in exchange for hundreds of detained Gazans.
For every Israeli hostage whose remains are released, Israel will release the remains of 15 dead Gazans.
Speaking at a White House news conference, President Trump hailed the plan as “a historic day for peace.”
However, he warned of consequences should the militant group reject the deal, stating Netanyahu would have US backing to “finish the job of destroying the threat of Hamas” if the group did not comply. Netanyahu echoed the warning, stating Israel “will finish the job” if Hamas rejected the plan or did not follow through.
Disagreement on Palestinian statehood
Despite the joint presentation, a significant point of contention emerged almost immediately. The White House proposal leaves the door open for an eventual Palestinian state.
However, in a video statement shortly afterwards, Prime Minister Netanyahu reinstated his longstanding opposition, saying: “It’s not written in the agreement. We said we would strongly oppose a Palestinian state,” and adding that the plan would allow the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) to maintain a presence in Gaza, contradicting elements of the published White House text on phased withdrawal.
International reaction and governance structure
Hamas officials in Doha were presented with the 20-point proposal by Qatari and Egyptian mediators.
A senior Hamas official indicated the group was open to studying any proposal that could end the war but stressed that any agreement must ensure a full Israeli withdrawal and halt the conflict.
The official stated: “The weapons of the resistance are a red line as long as the occupation continues. The issue of arms can only be discussed within the framework of a political solution that guarantees the establishment of an independent Palestinian state on the 1967 borders.”
The Palestinian Authority (PA) welcomed the US President’s efforts as “sincere and determined.”
In a joint statement, the foreign ministers of the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Egypt, Jordan, Turkey, Indonesia, and Pakistan welcomed Trump’s “leadership and his sincere efforts to end the war in Gaza,” expressing readiness to implement the agreement, which they said should lead to a “two state solution, under which Gaza is fully integrated with the West Bank in a Palestinian state.”
The peace plan mandates that Hamas will have no role in governing Gaza, “directly, indirectly, or in any form,” and requires the disarmament of the group.
Gaza’s interim governance would be handled by a “technocratic, apolitical Palestinian committee” under the supervision of a new international transitional body called the “Board of Peace,” which the US says will be headed by President Trump and include former UK PM Sir Tony Blair, who called the plan “bold and intelligent.”
Other European leaders also expressed support. UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer urged compliance, stating: “We call on all sides to come together and to work with the US Administration to finalise this agreement and bring it into reality. Hamas should now agree to the plan and end the misery, by laying down their arms and releasing all remaining hostages.”
The proposal also stipulates that “full aid will be immediately sent into the Gaza Strip” upon acceptance by both sides. The plan explicitly states that Palestinians will not be forced to leave Gaza, promising instead to “encourage people to stay and offer them the opportunity to build a better Gaza.”
Here is Trump’s proposal, verbatim:
- Gaza will be a deradicalized terror-free zone that does not pose a threat to its neighbors.
- Gaza will be redeveloped for the benefit of the people of Gaza, who have suffered more than enough.
- If both sides agree to this proposal, the war will immediately end. Israeli forces will withdraw to the agreed upon line to prepare for a hostage release. During this time, all military operations, including aerial and artillery bombardment, will be suspended, and battle lines will remain frozen until conditions are met for the complete staged withdrawal.
- Within 72 hours of Israel publicly accepting this agreement, all hostages, alive and deceased, will be returned.
- Once all hostages are released, Israel will release 250 life sentence prisoners plus 1700 Gazans who were detained after October 7th 2023, including all women and children detained in that context. For every Israeli hostage whose remains are released, Israel will release the remains of 15 deceased Gazans.
- Once all hostages are returned, Hamas members who commit to peaceful co-existence and to decommission their weapons will be given amnesty. Members of Hamas who wish to leave Gaza will be provided safe passage to receiving countries.
- Upon acceptance of this agreement, full aid will be immediately sent into the Gaza Strip. At a minimum, aid quantities will be consistent with what was included in the January 19, 2025, agreement regarding humanitarian aid, including rehabilitation of infrastructure (water, electricity, sewage), rehabilitation of hospitals and bakeries, and entry of necessary equipment to remove rubble and open roads.
- Entry of distribution and aid in the Gaza Strip will proceed without interference from the two parties through the United Nations and its agencies, and the Red Crescent, in addition to other international institutions not associated in any manner with either party. Opening the Rafah crossing in both directions will be subject to the same mechanism implemented under the January 19, 2025 agreement.
- Gaza will be governed under the temporary transitional governance of a technocratic, apolitical Palestinian committee, responsible for delivering the day-to-day running of public services and municipalities for the people in Gaza. This committee will be made up of qualified Palestinians and international experts, with oversight and supervision by a new international transitional body, the “Board of Peace,” which will be headed and chaired by President Donald J. Trump, with other members and heads of State to be announced, including Former Prime Minister Tony Blair. This body will set the framework and handle the funding for the redevelopment of Gaza until such time as the Palestinian Authority has completed its reform program, as outlined in various proposals, including President Trump’s peace plan in 2020 and the Saudi-French proposal, and can securely and effectively take back control of Gaza. This body will call on best international standards to create modern and efficient governance that serves the people of Gaza and is conducive to attracting investment.
- A Trump economic development plan to rebuild and energize Gaza will be created by convening a panel of experts who have helped birth some of the thriving modern miracle cities in the Middle East. Many thoughtful investment proposals and exciting development ideas have been crafted by well-meaning international groups, and will be considered to synthesize the security and governance frameworks to attract and facilitate these investments that will create jobs, opportunity, and hope for future Gaza.
- A special economic zone will be established with preferred tariff and access rates to be negotiated with participating countries.
- No one will be forced to leave Gaza, and those who wish to leave will be free to do so and free to return. We will encourage people to stay and offer them the opportunity to build a better Gaza.
- Hamas and other factions agree to not have any role in the governance of Gaza, directly, indirectly, or in any form. All military, terror, and offensive infrastructure, including tunnels and weapon production facilities, will be destroyed and not rebuilt. There will be a process of demilitarization of Gaza under the supervision of independent monitors, which will include placing weapons permanently beyond use through an agreed process of decommissioning, and supported by an internationally funded buy back and reintegration program all verified by the independent monitors. New Gaza will be fully committed to building a prosperous economy and to peaceful coexistence with their neighbors.
- A guarantee will be provided by regional partners to ensure that Hamas, and the factions, comply with their obligations and that New Gaza poses no threat to its neighbors or its people.
- The United States will work with Arab and international partners to develop a temporary International Stabilization Force (ISF) to immediately deploy in Gaza. The ISF will train and provide support to vetted Palestinian police forces in Gaza, and will consult with Jordan and Egypt who have extensive experience in this field. This force will be the long-term internal security solution. The ISF will work with Israel and Egypt to help secure border areas, along with newly trained Palestinian police forces. It is critical to prevent munitions from entering Gaza and to facilitate the rapid and secure flow of goods to rebuild and revitalize Gaza. A deconfliction mechanism will be agreed upon by the parties.
- Israel will not occupy or annex Gaza. As the ISF establishes control and stability, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) will withdraw based on standards, milestones, and timeframes linked to demilitarization that will be agreed upon between the IDF, ISF, the guarantors, and the Unites States, with the objective of a secure Gaza that no longer poses a threat to Israel, Egypt, or its citizens. Practically, the IDF will progressively hand over the Gaza territory it occupies to the ISF according to an agreement they will make with the transitional authority until they are withdrawn completely from Gaza, save for a security perimeter presence that will remain until Gaza is properly secure from any resurgent terror threat.
- n the event Hamas delays or rejects this proposal, the above, including the scaled-up aid operation, will proceed in the terror-free areas handed over from the IDF to the ISF.
- An interfaith dialogue process will be established based on the values of tolerance and peaceful co-existence to try and change mindsets and narratives of Palestinians and Israelis by emphasizing the benefits that can be derived from peace.
- While Gaza re-development advances and when the PA reform program is faithfully carried out, the conditions may finally be in place for a credible pathway to Palestinian self-determination and statehood, which we recognize as the aspiration of the Palestinian people.
- The United States will establish a dialogue between Israel and the Palestinians to agree on a political horizon for peaceful and prosperous co-existence.
