In a significant joint announcement from the White House, former President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu have put forth a comprehensive proposal aimed at bringing an end to the conflict in Gaza. The plan, touted as a major stride towards peace in the Middle East, carries a stern demand for Hamas: accept its terms or face Israel’s full backing to be eliminated as a threat.
The intricate proposal outlines a multi-stage process. It mandates an immediate end to hostilities, with Israeli forces initiating a phased withdrawal from the Gaza Strip. This withdrawal would be contingent on the immediate return of all Israeli hostages, both living and deceased. An ‘International Stabilization Force’ is envisioned to take over internal security, allowing for a further Israeli pullback. However, Israel reserves the right to maintain a substantial ‘security perimeter’ within Gaza’s borders for the foreseeable future, a clause that signals potential for prolonged Israeli presence.
For Hamas, the terms are stringent: complete disarmament, the dismantling of all offensive infrastructure including tunnels and weapons facilities, and a complete cessation of any future governance role in Gaza. Members of Hamas who commit to peaceful coexistence and surrender their weapons would be offered amnesty, while those wishing to leave Gaza would be granted safe passage to receiving countries. In exchange for the release of all hostages, Israel would release 250 life-sentence prisoners and 1,700 other Gazans detained after the October 7, 2023, attack. For every deceased Israeli hostage’s remains, Israel would release 15 deceased Gazans.
Humanitarian aid is a central component, with commitments for immediate and scaled-up delivery, consistent with prior agreements, including the rehabilitation of critical infrastructure like water, electricity, sewage systems, hospitals, and bakeries. The Rafah crossing’s operation would adhere to existing mechanisms.
A temporary, technocratic Palestinian committee, comprising qualified Palestinians and international experts, would oversee daily public services in Gaza. This committee would operate under the ‘Board of Peace,’ a new international transitional body chaired by President Trump, with former Prime Minister Tony Blair also noted as a potential member. This board would oversee Gaza’s redevelopment, with a Trump economic development plan promising to rebuild and energize the territory through a panel of experts and a special economic zone.
Crucially, the plan asserts that Israel will neither occupy nor annex Gaza. It also offers a distant, conditional pathway to Palestinian statehood, recognizing it as an ‘aspiration’ once Gaza is rebuilt and the Palestinian Authority completes a ‘reform program.’ An interfaith dialogue process is also proposed to foster tolerance and peaceful coexistence.
Despite the ambitious nature of the plan, its acceptance by Hamas remains highly unlikely. The militant group has consistently rejected calls for disarmament and full Israeli withdrawal as prerequisites for any hostage deal, and claims it was not consulted on this latest proposal.
International reactions have been varied. France’s President Emmanuel Macron welcomed Trump’s proposal, urging Israel’s resolute engagement and Hamas’s immediate compliance. Arab nations, including Qatar, Jordan, the UAE, Indonesia, Pakistan, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, and Egypt, also issued a joint statement welcoming Trump’s ‘sincere efforts.’ Within Israel, Prime Minister Netanyahu’s Likud Party members largely embraced the plan, though some hardliners voiced strong opposition to any notion of a Palestinian state. Notably, opposition leaders like Yair Lapid and Benny Gantz also expressed support, seeing it as a viable basis for a hostage deal and an end to the war.
Amidst these diplomatic efforts, Israeli forces continue their offensive in Gaza City, causing widespread displacement and intensifying a dire humanitarian crisis. The conflict has severely damaged Israel’s international standing, with calls for investigations into alleged war crimes and growing recognition of Palestinian statehood by former allies. The fate of the remaining hostages, estimated at 20 living and 25 deceased, remains a pressing concern, with no immediate resolution in sight despite the new peace overtures.
The inclusion of Tony Blair, former British Prime Minister, as a potential figure in Gaza’s postwar reconstruction highlights the international community’s struggle for viable leadership. Blair, with a long but often controversial history in Middle East diplomacy, has expressed support for a U.N.-mandated ‘Gaza International Transitional Authority’ backed by a multinational security force.