In a pivotal White House news conference, President Trump and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel jointly unveiled a wide-ranging, 20-point plan designed to bring an immediate end to the conflict in Gaza and shape the territory’s future. This detailed proposal, publicly released by the White House, outlines conditions for a cease-fire and reconstruction, though some of its terms have already faced public rejection from Hamas.
The Proposed Cease-Fire and Initial Steps
The plan asserts that if both sides agree, the war will end immediately. Key initial conditions include:
- Hostage Release: All Israeli hostages, both living and deceased, must be returned within 72 hours of Israel’s public acceptance of the agreement.
- Prisoner Exchange: Following the hostage release, Israel will free 250 life-sentence prisoners and 1,700 Gazans detained after October 7, 2023, including all women and children. For every deceased Israeli hostage, the remains of 15 deceased Gazans will be released.
- Military Pause: Israeli forces will withdraw to an agreed-upon line, suspending all military operations, including aerial and artillery bombardment, until conditions for a complete withdrawal are met.
- Hamas Amnesty and Departure: Hamas members who commit to peaceful coexistence and decommissioning their weapons will be granted amnesty. Those wishing to leave Gaza will receive safe passage to receiving countries.
Humanitarian Aid and Gaza’s Future Governance
The proposal also outlines a robust framework for Gaza’s post-conflict future:
- Immediate Aid: Full humanitarian aid will immediately flow into the Gaza Strip, consistent with a previous agreement from January 19, 2025. This includes rehabilitating essential infrastructure like water, electricity, and sewage, as well as hospitals and bakeries. Aid distribution will be managed by the United Nations, Red Crescent, and other international, neutral institutions.
- Rafah Crossing: The Rafah crossing will reopen in both directions under the mechanism established in the January 19, 2025 agreement.
- Temporary Governance: Gaza will transition to a temporary, technocratic, and apolitical Palestinian committee responsible for daily public services. This committee will comprise qualified Palestinians and international experts, overseen by a new international body: the ‘Board of Peace’.
- President Trump’s Role: President Trump is slated to chair the ‘Board of Peace’, with other heads of state, including former Prime Minister Tony Blair, also expected to join. This board will frame and fund Gaza’s redevelopment until the Palestinian Authority completes its reform program and can securely take control.
- Economic Development: A ‘Trump economic development plan’ aims to rebuild and energize Gaza, leveraging expert panels to create jobs, opportunities, and hope. A special economic zone with preferred tariffs will be established.
- No Forced Displacement: The plan explicitly states that no one will be forced to leave Gaza; those who wish to leave may do so freely and are free to return. The goal is to encourage residents to stay and contribute to a better Gaza.
Security and Demilitarization
Critical security aspects are also addressed:
- Hamas’s Exclusion: Hamas and other factions must agree to have no role, direct or indirect, in Gaza’s governance.
- Infrastructure Destruction: All military, terror, and offensive infrastructure, including tunnels and weapon production facilities, will be destroyed and not rebuilt.
- Demilitarization: A process of demilitarization, supervised by independent monitors, will ensure weapons are permanently decommissioned, supported by an internationally funded buy-back and reintegration program.
- Regional Guarantees: Regional partners will guarantee Hamas’s compliance and ensure a ‘New Gaza’ poses no threat to its neighbors.
- International Stabilization Force (ISF): The United States will collaborate with Arab and international partners to deploy a temporary ISF in Gaza. This force will train and support vetted Palestinian police, secure border areas with Israel and Egypt, and prevent munitions entry. This ISF is envisioned as the long-term internal security solution.
- Israeli Withdrawal: Israel will not occupy or annex Gaza. The IDF will progressively hand over territory to the ISF, withdrawing completely based on agreed-upon demilitarization milestones and timeframes. A security perimeter may remain until Gaza is deemed properly secure from terror threats.
- Contingency: If Hamas delays or rejects the proposal, the scaled-up aid and other aspects of the plan will proceed in terror-free areas handed over from the IDF to the ISF.
Towards Peaceful Coexistence
Finally, the plan proposes:
- Interfaith Dialogue: A process of interfaith dialogue will be established to foster tolerance and peaceful coexistence, aiming to shift mindsets and narratives among Palestinians and Israelis.
- Pathway to Statehood: The plan suggests that as Gaza’s redevelopment progresses and the Palestinian Authority’s reform program is faithfully implemented, conditions may align for a credible pathway to Palestinian self-determination and statehood.
- U.S.-Led Dialogue: The United States will facilitate a dialogue between Israel and Palestinians to establish a political horizon for peaceful and prosperous coexistence.
The release of this plan coincided with the White House news conference, prompting immediate reactions from global observers. While President Trump expressed optimism about Hamas’s potential acceptance due to leadership losses, some details, such as the indefinite nature of Israel’s buffer zone control and the Palestinian Authority’s vague role, have already drawn scrutiny.