In a highly anticipated meeting at the White House, former President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu convened to discuss critical U.S.-backed plans for the future of Gaza. The atmosphere surrounding the joint news conference was notably tense, with observers uncertain of the outcome.
Key issues on the agenda included a potential cease-fire and the framework for postwar governance in Gaza. President Trump, a long-standing supporter of Israel, has recently expressed impatience with the ongoing conflict and explicitly stated he would not permit Israel to annex parts of the occupied West Bank.
Historically, Prime Minister Netanyahu is known for a ‘yes, but’ approach in negotiations, often agreeing in principle while seeking significant revisions or conditions. This tendency is under scrutiny, especially as he faces considerable pressure from his right-wing coalition partners, such as Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich. Smotrich has laid down ‘red lines,’ including a permanent Israeli military presence in Gaza and no involvement for the Palestinian Authority in the territory’s future. Critics suggest Netanyahu frequently prioritizes satisfying his right-wing base over securing a realistic cease-fire deal that could free remaining hostages.
Hamas, the Palestinian armed group, has asserted that it has not been consulted on any of the proposed peace plans. Its leaders have rejected calls to disarm and the concept of an international force controlling Gaza, viewing such demands as a violation of the Palestinian people’s right to self-determination as long as the occupation persists.
Meanwhile, Qatar has played a crucial role as a mediator alongside Egypt since the war’s outset. However, its position was questioned following Israeli airstrikes on the Qatari capital, Doha, in September, a move that reportedly angered U.S. officials.
The Palestinian Authority’s Potential Role in Gaza
A central question in the ongoing diplomatic efforts is whether the Palestinian Authority (PA) will play any part in Gaza’s postwar future. The PA, which governs parts of the Israeli-occupied West Bank, considers itself the legitimate government of a prospective Palestinian state. Established in 1994 by the Oslo Accords as a temporary administration, its relations with Israel have been strained.
Mahmoud Abbas, the 89-year-old president of the Palestinian Authority, delivered a video address to the U.N. General Assembly last week, condemning Israel’s actions in Gaza as ‘war crimes’ and asserting his government’s readiness to assume responsibility for the enclave, explicitly excluding Hamas from any governance role. This address came after the Trump administration denied him and his delegation visas to attend the Assembly in New York on national security grounds.
Critics often accuse the PA under Abbas’s leadership of corruption and authoritarianism, with recent polls indicating a widespread desire among Palestinians for his resignation. Israeli officials, including Prime Minister Netanyahu, have echoed these criticisms, though supporters argue the Israeli occupation impedes the PA’s effectiveness.
The international community’s recent recognition of Palestinian statehood by nearly 150 nations, including some Israeli allies like France, Britain, and Canada, is largely symbolic. This move has deepened Israel’s isolation, as both Israel and its U.S. allies oppose such recognition, viewing it as a reward for Hamas.
Despite the PA’s willingness to govern Gaza and the existing rivalry between the PA and Hamas (rooted in Hamas’s violent ousting of the PA from Gaza in 2007), significant obstacles remain. Israel’s ongoing ground offensive in Gaza City and Hamas’s refusal to disarm highlight the deep divisions.
Emerging Peace Proposals
Several plans are currently circulating to end the conflict and establish postwar governance in Gaza:
- The Trump Plan: Outlined by U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff at the U.N., this proposal suggests Hamas would release all living hostages and remains of captives within 48 hours. Peaceful Hamas members would receive amnesty, and those wishing to leave Gaza would be granted safe passage. It also calls for a new dialogue on peaceful coexistence and a pledge from Israel to cease attacks on Qatar.
- The Blair Plan: Championed by former British Prime Minister Tony Blair, this plan proposes a U.N.-mandated ‘Gaza International Transitional Authority’ supported by a multinational security force. Its objectives include preventing the resurgence of armed groups, disrupting weapons smuggling, neutralizing asymmetric threats, and ensuring displaced Palestinians can return home through ‘protected departure certificates.’ This version of the proposal gives the Palestinian Authority a limited role, subject to significant reforms in areas like security practices.
- The French-Saudi Plan (New York Declaration): This proposal, backed by 142 countries at the U.N. General Assembly, advocates for an Israeli withdrawal from the Gaza Strip. It calls for a U.N.-organized international security force, a ban on Hamas governance, and the transfer of Hamas’s weapons to the Palestinian Authority. Postwar Gaza would be overseen by a transitional committee of technocrats operating under the PA’s umbrella, with elections to be held within a year of a cease-fire.
As these complex negotiations unfold, the path to peace remains fraught with challenges, as fundamental disagreements between the warring parties persist.