U.S. President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu have announced an agreement on a new peace plan for Gaza, urging Hamas to accept the terms.
The proposed plan calls for an immediate cessation of military operations, contingent upon Hamas releasing 20 living Israeli hostages, as well as the remains of over two dozen hostages presumed deceased, within a 72-hour timeframe. In return, hundreds of detained Gazans would be released.
According to a Palestinian source familiar with the ceasefire negotiations, Hamas officials have received the White House’s detailed 20-point proposal via intermediaries.
A key provision of the plan stipulates that Hamas will relinquish any governing role in Gaza, while also leaving the possibility open for a future Palestinian state.
During a press conference held at the White House following their discussions, President Trump described the agreement as “a historic day for peace.”
He also affirmed that the United States would support Prime Minister Netanyahu in taking necessary actions should Hamas reject the proposed plan.
Prime Minister Netanyahu echoed this sentiment, stating that Israel “will finish the job” if Hamas rejects the plan or fails to fully comply.
British Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer welcomed the initiative, stating, “We call on all sides to come together and to work with the US Administration to finalise this agreement and bring it into reality. Hamas should now agree to the plan and end the misery, by laying down their arms and releasing all remaining hostages.”
The proposal outlines an immediate halt to military actions, with existing “battle lines” to be frozen until conditions are met for a phased withdrawal.
Under the terms of the plan, Hamas would be required to disarm, and its tunnel network and weapons production facilities would be dismantled.
Upon the release of the 20 living Israeli hostages and the remains of those presumed dead, Israel would reciprocate by releasing hundreds of detained Gazans.
The plan stipulates that for each set of Israeli hostage remains released, Israel will release the remains of 15 deceased Gazans.
Furthermore, the proposal states that upon agreement from both parties, “full aid will be immediately sent into the Gaza Strip.”
The U.S. plan also addresses the future governance of Gaza, suggesting a temporary “technocratic, apolitical Palestinian committee” operating “with oversight and supervision by a new international transitional body, called the Board of Peace, which will be headed” by President Trump.
Former UK Prime Minister Tony Blair, along with other yet-to-be-announced leaders, would also serve on the governing body. Mr. Blair has described the plan as “bold and intelligent.”
The plan explicitly states that Hamas will have no role in governance, “directly, indirectly, or in any form.”
A significant portion of the plan focuses on what the U.S. refers to as an “economic development plan” for rebuilding Gaza. It also asserts that “Israel will not occupy or annex Gaza,” and its forces will withdraw from the territory in stages over time.
In a departure from President Trump’s previous statements, Palestinians will not be forced to leave Gaza. The document states, “We will encourage people to stay and offer them the opportunity to build a better Gaza.”
The plan also keeps the prospect of a future Palestinian state open.
According to a Palestinian source familiar with the ceasefire negotiations, “Qatari and Egyptian officials have handed over the White House plan to end the war in Gaza to Hamas officials in Doha.”
Earlier, a senior Hamas official told the BBC that the group remains open to reviewing any proposal that could bring an end to the conflict in Gaza. However, the official emphasized that any agreement must protect Palestinian interests, guarantee a complete Israeli withdrawal from Gaza, and bring the war to a definitive end.
When asked about the group’s weapons, the official stated, “The weapons of the resistance are a red line as long as the occupation continues.”
“The issue of arms can only be discussed within the framework of a political solution that guarantees the establishment of an independent Palestinian state on the 1967 borders.”
The announcement of the plan comes shortly after Prime Minister Netanyahu criticized the recognition of a Palestinian state by several Western countries during a speech at the UN General Assembly.
Netanyahu characterized these recognition moves as a “mark of shame” that conveyed the message that “murdering Jews pays off.”
Numerous officials and diplomats walked out as he began his address, leaving significant portions of the conference hall empty.
While President Trump has consistently supported Prime Minister Netanyahu since returning to the White House for a second term, reports indicate increasing frustration with him in recent weeks.
President Trump reportedly expressed displeasure over Israel’s recent strike on Hamas members in Qatar, a key U.S. ally.
Prior to Monday’s press conference, Prime Minister Netanyahu called Prime Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim al-Thani of Qatar from the White House to express deep regret over the unintentional killing of a Qatari serviceman in an Israeli missile strike.
The Israeli military initiated a campaign in Gaza in response to the Hamas-led attack on southern Israel on October 7, 2023, which resulted in approximately 1,200 deaths and the abduction of 251 individuals.
According to the territory’s Hamas-run health ministry, at least 66,055 people have been killed in Israeli attacks in Gaza since then.
A UN-backed body recently confirmed that famine was occurring in Gaza City. Earlier this month, a UN commission of inquiry concluded that Israel had committed genocide in Gaza, an accusation that Israel vehemently denies.
The former UK prime minister became the first named member of a new “Board of Peace” chaired by Donald Trump.
The deal proposes an end to military operations, a release of Israeli hostages by Hamas and the immediate delivery of aid to Gaza.
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Israel is continuing its offensive against Hamas, after PM Benjamin Netanyahu told the UN Israel “must finish the job” in Gaza.