Heading into Monday’s crucial meeting, the central question loomed: would President Trump successfully exert enough pressure on Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to finally bring an end to the devastating war in Gaza?
Ultimately, the outcome was remarkably favorable for Mr. Netanyahu. President Trump’s new proposal essentially granted him nearly every condition he had sought: an immediate demand for Hamas to release all hostages and surrender its weapons, effectively giving Israel free rein to continue its campaign in Gaza if those terms weren’t met.
Furthermore, Israeli forces were permitted to maintain a presence along Gaza’s perimeter for the foreseeable future. The proposal offered only a minimal acknowledgment of Palestinian statehood aspirations, almost implying they should cease to hope. Critically, the Palestinian Authority was sidelined, with no immediate role envisioned for it in Gaza’s future governance.
This moment represented an unusual victory for Mr. Netanyahu, demonstrating his continued ability to achieve his objectives, even as Israel faced increasing international isolation. Just days prior, several European nations had officially recognized a Palestinian state, and Mr. Netanyahu had delivered a speech to a largely empty hall at the United Nations, highlighting his diplomatic challenges.
Later on Monday, standing beside President Trump, Mr. Netanyahu publicly endorsed the U.S.-backed initiative, declaring it met his criteria for concluding the war with Hamas. Even Arab and Muslim governments, including the Palestinian Authority, appeared poised to accept the framework.
Regarding Hamas, the plan explicitly stated that the group would have no part in the future governance of the Gaza Strip, a detail that previous peace efforts had left ambiguous.
Now, Hamas’s leadership faces a critical decision: accept the Trump plan, attempt to renegotiate its terms, or reject it entirely. Each path carries substantial risks for the Palestinian armed faction, which has endured nearly two years of relentless Israeli offensive through persistent insurgency.
An image shows President Trump and Prime Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel together in Washington.
Accepting a deal that would necessitate relinquishing control in Gaza presents a profound challenge for Hamas. However, outright rejecting a clear pathway to peace risks further alienating a Palestinian population that has endured almost two nightmarish years of intense conflict and devastation. Some residents of Gaza openly accuse Hamas of prioritizing its own political survival over their immense suffering.
Ibrahim Madhoun, a Palestinian analyst with close ties to Hamas, noted that the Trump plan was fundamentally structured to exclude Hamas, making its acceptance inherently difficult for the group. Hamas officials have previously stated that demands such as surrendering their weapons constitute an uncrossable ‘red line’.
Madhoun suggested that Hamas might still agree to the proposal, or at least use it as a foundation for future talks, to bring an end to the war. However, he cautioned that many of the plan’s twenty points remained vague and would undoubtedly necessitate prolonged negotiations to finalize.
“Every single clause is a veritable minefield, requiring its own distinct agreement,” Mr. Madhoun emphasized.
Demonstrators gathered in Tel Aviv, advocating for the release of hostages and an end to the ongoing conflict.