In a bold move on Monday, former President Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu jointly presented a new proposal aimed at ending the protracted conflict in Gaza. Heralded as a significant step towards peace in the Middle East, the plan comes with an ultimatum: Hamas must accept its terms.
However, immediate reactions suggest that Hamas is unlikely to agree, given the proposal’s stringent conditions. These include the militant group’s disarmament, a less-than-complete Israeli withdrawal from the territory, and Hamas being excluded from any future governance of Gaza.
Regional officials, speaking anonymously due to the sensitive nature of the discussions, confirmed that the Qatari Prime Minister and Egypt’s General Intelligence Service chief shared the proposal with Hamas negotiators. Hamas reportedly pledged to review the plan in good faith and provide a response.
During their White House appearance, Prime Minister Netanyahu swiftly endorsed the plan. Mr. Trump, in turn, issued a stark warning: if Hamas rejects these terms—many of which the group has consistently opposed—Israel would receive his ‘full backing’ to eradicate the threat posed by Hamas.
Netanyahu echoed this resolve, vowing, “This can be done the easy way or it can be done the hard way, but it will be done,” emphasizing Israel’s commitment to the goal with or without international support.
The proposal outlines a phased withdrawal of Israeli forces from the Gaza Strip, commencing with the return of all living and deceased hostages. A further withdrawal would follow once an “International Stabilization Force” is in place to ensure internal security. Notably, Israel would be permitted to maintain a substantial buffer zone within Gaza’s borders “for the foreseeable future.”
In exchange, Hamas would benefit from a prisoner exchange involving 250 inmates serving life sentences and 1,700 other Gazans detained after the October 7, 2023, attack on Israel. Hamas members who commit to peaceful coexistence and surrender their weapons would be granted amnesty, with safe passage offered to those wishing to leave Gaza.
Crucially, the plan mandates that Hamas relinquish any governing role in Gaza, dismantle its arms and offensive infrastructure, and agree to demilitarization under independent international oversight.
Palestinian statehood, a long-standing aspiration, receives only minimal acknowledgment in the proposal. While Arab nations advocate for the Palestinian Authority’s involvement in postwar Gaza as the legitimate representative of the Palestinian people, Israel views it as corrupt and an impediment to peace. The Trump-Netanyahu plan only envisions a role for the Authority after it successfully implements a “reform program.”
The proposal cautiously states that a “credible pathway” to statehood might emerge “when an overhaul program by the authority is faithfully carried out” and Gaza is rebuilt.
Additional Key Information:
- Latest Fighting: Despite ongoing discussions about Gaza’s future, Israeli forces continue their operations in Gaza City, leading to widespread displacement and persistent humanitarian challenges for hundreds of thousands of Palestinians.
- International Diplomacy: The conflict has significantly impacted Israel’s global standing, with Prime Minister Netanyahu facing allegations of war crimes, several European allies recognizing a Palestinian state, and increasing international criticism.
- Remaining Hostages: The war has yet to secure the release of all hostages. Israel reports at least 20 living captives and the bodies of approximately 25 others remain in Hamas’s custody.
International reactions are already surfacing. Foreign ministers from Qatar, Jordan, the UAE, Indonesia, Pakistan, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, and Egypt have welcomed President Trump’s “sincere efforts.” French President Emmanuel Macron also expressed support, urging Israel to engage and Hamas to release all hostages immediately.
Under the proposal, a temporary “Board of Peace,” chaired by Trump, would oversee Gaza’s redevelopment. Trump reportedly has a long-standing interest in the area’s waterfront potential.
Within Israel, opinions are divided. While some Likud Party members have embraced Trump’s plan as advancing Israeli objectives and promoting “peace through strength,” Communications Minister Shlomo Karhi firmly stated, “There will never be a Palestinian state in the land of our forefathers.” Opposition leaders like Yair Lapid and Benny Gantz, however, lauded the plan as a proper basis for a hostage deal and an end to the war, signaling potential political support for its advancement.
Hamas, however, is likely to reject key aspects of the plan. It has consistently demanded a permanent end to the war and a complete Israeli withdrawal before releasing hostages. The proposal outlines a 72-hour window for hostage release upon Israeli acceptance, but leaves the Israeli withdrawal timeline vague, linking it to “demilitarization standards, milestones and timeframes” agreed upon by various parties. Hamas has also publicly refused to disarm, a central tenet of the new plan.
Trump highlighted that Hamas’s reduced leadership might increase the chances of acceptance. “Their leadership has been killed three times over. So you’re really dealing with different people,” he remarked, asserting that “Now it’s time for Hamas to accept the terms of the plan.”
A critical point in the proposal is the absence of a guaranteed final withdrawal of Israeli military forces from Gaza. While a phased pullback is mentioned, Israel would maintain a significant “buffer” zone within Gaza’s borders “until Gaza is properly secure from any resurgent terror threat.” The criteria for determining this security threshold remain unspecified, raising concerns about a potentially indefinite Israeli presence.
Full Text of the White House’s Gaza Cease-Fire Plan:
- Gaza will be a de-radicalized 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 1,700 Gazans who were detained after Oct. 7, 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 coexistence 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 Jan. 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 Jan. 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 (I.S.F.) to immediately deploy in Gaza. The I.S.F. 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 I.S.F. 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 de-confliction mechanism will be agreed upon by the parties.
- Israel will not occupy or annex Gaza. As the I.S.F. establishes control and stability, the Israel Defense Forces (I.D.F.) will withdraw based on standards, milestones, and time frames linked to demilitarization that will be agreed upon between the I.D.F., I.S.F., the guarantors, and the United States, with the objective of a secure Gaza that no longer poses a threat to Israel, Egypt, or its citizens. Practically, the I.D.F. 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.
- In 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 I.D.F. to the I.S.F.
- An interfaith dialogue process will be established based on the values of tolerance and peaceful coexistence to try and change mind-sets and narratives of Palestinians and Israelis by emphasizing the benefits that can be derived from peace.
- The United States will establish a dialogue between Israel and the Palestinians to agree on a political horizon for peaceful and prosperous coexistence.
Former British Prime Minister Tony Blair has emerged as a significant figure in discussions surrounding Gaza’s postwar reconstruction. He has been advocating for a “Gaza International Transitional Authority,” a UN-mandated administration supported by a multinational security force. Following the release of the Trump-Netanyahu plan, Blair issued a statement calling it “bold” and offering “the best chance of ending two years of war, misery and suffering.”
Blair’s extensive, though often contentious, career in Middle East diplomacy, including his eight-year tenure as envoy for the Quartet, positions him as a potential leader for this new authority. His history of engaging with various regional leaders, including autocratic ones like Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, underscores his belief in the transformative potential of such engagement, despite past controversies. The ongoing conflict, however, has paused crucial normalization talks between Saudi Arabia, the U.S., and Israel, which Blair views as vital for regional stability.