United States President Donald Trump on Monday announced a 20-point plan to bring peace to Gaza, saying that “we are beyond very close” to ending the war in the territory, Al-Jazeera reported.
Speaking at a press conference with Israeli President Benjamin Netanyahu by his side, Trump said that Monday was a “historic day for peace”.
The US president said that while “everyone else has accepted” the proposal, if Palestinian militant group Hamas does not agree to it, Israel would have Washington’s backing “to do what you have to do”, Al-Jazeera reported.
Netanyahu said that he supported the proposal, as it would achieve Israel’s aims for the war.
However, a Hamas official, Mahmoud Mardawi, said that the group had not yet received the proposal in writing.
The proposal
The plan entails Israeli forces partially withdrawing from Gaza to prepare for hostages to be released, Reuters reported.
Within 72 hours of Israel accepting the proposal, Hamas would have to return all hostages, whether alive or dead. Subsequently, Israel will release 250 Palestinian prisoners undergoing life terms, as well as 1,700 Gaza residents who were detained after the conflict began on October 7, 2023.
Members of Hamas who “commit to peaceful coexistence” and agree to lay down arms will be given amnesty. Hamas members who want to leave Gaza will be given safe passage to receiving countries, as per the proposal.
The White House said that Israel will not annex Gaza and no one will be forced to leave the region, Al-Jazeera reported.
Israeli security forces will progressively hand over the territory in Gaza that they are occupying to a temporary International Stabilisation Force.
The proposal also envisions a “Board of Peace” comprising international overseers led by Trump himself. The board will include former British Prime Minister Tony Blair, although the proposal has not yet specified his role, according to Reuters.
Gaza will be governed by a temporary “technocratic, apolitical” committee comprising Palestinians and global experts and the “Board of Peace” will oversee the committee’s functioning. The proposal will require Hamas to have no direct or indirect role in governing Gaza. All military infrastructure, including tunnels and factories producing arms, must be dismantled, Reuters reported.
‘Welcome Trump’s announcement’: PM Modi
India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi welcomed Trump’s announcement of a “comprehensive plan” to end the conflict in Gaza.
“It provides a viable pathway to long term and sustainable peace, security and development for the Palestinian and Israeli people, as also for the larger West Asian region,” Modi said. “We hope that all concerned will come together behind President Trump’s initiative and support this effort to end conflict and secure peace.”
In a joint statement, the foreign ministers of Saudi Arabia, Jordan, the United Arab Emirates, Indonesia, Pakistan, Türkiye, Qatar and Egypt welcomed Trump’s “sincere efforts to end the war in Gaza”.
The foreign ministers emphasised the importance of the partnership of the United States in bringing about peace in the region.
“Along these lines, the ministers welcome the announcement by President Trump regarding his proposal to end the war, rebuild Gaza, prevent the displacement of the Palestinian people and advance a comprehensive peace, as well as his announcement that he will not allow the annexation of the West Bank,” the joint statement read.
Israel’s war on Gaza
Israel’s military offensive in Gaza began in October 2023 after Hamas killed 1,200 persons during its incursion into southern Israel and took hostages. Israel has been carrying out unprecedented air and ground strikes on besieged Gaza since then, leaving more than 62,600 persons dead.
Israel and Hamas have been holding ceasefire talks since July 6. Earlier efforts to reinstate a brief ceasefire that took effect in January had stalled due to disagreements between the two sides.
In August, the UN formally declared a famine in northern Gaza, warning that it could spread from the Gaza Governorate to Deir Al Balah and Khan Younis in the coming weeks.
A commission of inquiry set up by the United Nations said on September 16 that Israel had committed genocide against Palestinians in Gaza. Israel called the report “distorted and false”, and demanded that the commission be immediately abolished.
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