As President Donald J. Trump and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel prepare to meet at the White House, several new proposals to end the fighting in Gaza and govern the territory are under discussion.
This year’s U.N. General Assembly was dominated by debate about the conflict and the future of the embattled territory. At the end of the sessions last week, President Trump sounded optimistic about reaching a deal to end the war.
However, similar pronouncements have been made before, and any effort to halt the conflict still faces significant hurdles. Israel and the Palestinian group Hamas remain deeply divided on key issues, and recent weeks have seen an escalation of fighting with an Israeli ground offensive aimed at taking over Gaza City.
Speaking at the United Nations on Friday, Mr. Netanyahu expressed determination to press ahead with the Gaza City campaign. Hamas stated on Sunday that it had not received any new proposals from the mediators, and negotiations are currently at a standstill.
These are some of the latest plans being considered to end the war, establish a new system of post-war governance, and address the devastating humanitarian crisis in Gaza.
The Trump Plan
Steve Witkoff, the U.S. envoy for peace missions, outlined the broad contours of an American peace plan in a meeting with leaders of Arab and Muslim-majority countries at the U.N. last week.
Under this plan, Hamas would agree to return all living hostages and the remains of former captives within 48 hours of the agreement, according to an Arab official and another source familiar with the sensitive discussions who spoke on condition of anonymity. Hamas members who commit to peaceful coexistence with Israel would be granted amnesty under the proposal, and those wishing to leave would be guaranteed safe passage out of Gaza, the source added. The Times of Israel previously reported details of this proposal.
The American proposal also includes a commitment from both sides to initiate a new dialogue on peaceful coexistence, along with a pledge that Israel will not launch further attacks on Qatar, a senior White House official confirmed.
Qatar, a vital U.S. ally, has played a central role as a mediator in negotiations to end the Gaza war, alongside Egypt. Israel launched airstrikes on the Qatari capital, Doha, on September 9th in an unsuccessful attempt to assassinate a group of Hamas officials — a strike that drew strong criticism from U.S. officials.
However, whether Mr. Trump can bring the war to an end will likely hinge on his willingness to pressure Mr. Netanyahu, who has steadfastly refused to halt his military campaign until Israel achieves its stated goals. Netanyahu has also adopted a more defiant stance as multiple Western countries recently recognized a Palestinian state.
In a Sunday interview with Fox News, Mr. Netanyahu indicated that Israel and the United States were still developing the plan and that he preferred not to discuss details prematurely to avoid preempting those conversations.
“We’re working on it; it’s not been finalized yet,” he said. “I hope we can make it a go.”
The Blair Plan
One proposal suggests that Gaza be governed by an entity termed the Gaza International Transitional Authority. Tony Blair, the former British prime minister, is reportedly being considered for a role overseeing Gaza after the cessation of hostilities, according to three individuals familiar with the matter.
The Transitional Authority would be supported by a multinational security force tasked with providing security at border crossings and preventing the resurgence of armed groups, disrupting weapons smuggling, and neutralizing asymmetric threats, as per a version of the proposal seen by The Times.
The Blair proposal also addresses Palestinian concerns regarding permanent displacement from Gaza. It states that the Transitional Authority would be empowered to issue “protected departure certificates,” guaranteeing individuals who wish to leave Gaza the right to return to their homes in the future.
The version of the proposal reviewed by The Times did not explicitly mention Hamas, which initiated the October 7, 2023, attack on Israel that sparked the Gaza war. However, it did suggest that the Palestinian Authority, a rival government to Hamas that manages parts of the West Bank, would have a limited role in governing Gaza. The Authority is generally considered more moderate than Hamas and collaborates with Israel on security matters.
Israeli officials have long criticized the Palestinian Authority, accusing it of corruption, mismanagement, and fostering hostility toward Israel. This proposal advocates for significant reforms within the Authority, including its security practices.
It further states that decisions made by the proposed Transitional Authority and the Palestinian Authority should be consistent with the eventual unification of all Palestinian territory under the Palestinian Authority’s umbrella.
The French-Saudi Plan
A third proposal, endorsed by 142 countries at the General Assembly, is known as the New York declaration, a joint initiative led by France and Saudi Arabia.
This plan calls for Israel’s withdrawal from the Gaza Strip and the deployment of an international security force organized by the U.N. Hamas would be prohibited from governing Gaza and would be required to surrender its weapons to the Palestinian Authority.
The proposal envisions post-war Gaza being governed by a transitional committee of technocrats operating under the Palestinian Authority. This authority would then commit to holding elections within one year of a cease-fire.
Maggie Haberman contributed reporting.