President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu have announced a new US-backed peace plan for Gaza, even as Israeli forces press one of their fiercest offensives in the battered Palestinian enclave . The 20-point proposal, which the White House released, calls for a ceasefire and a swap of hostages held by Hamas for Palestinian prisoners held by Israel . While Trump stated the parties were "beyond very close" to a deal, the plan's success hinges on Hamas's agreement, and a senior Hamas official has already told the BBC the group will reject it, as the offer does not include guarantees for a permanent ceasefire . For many Palestinians, the proposal appears less as a path to peace and more as a mechanism for the permanent disarming of Gaza and the consolidation of Israeli security control, raising alarms about the strip's future sovereignty.
The publicly released plan outlines a process where the war would end immediately if both sides agree, followed by the release of all hostages within 72 hours . In exchange, Israel would release 250 Palestinians serving life sentences and 1,700 Gazans detained after October 7th, 2023 . However, the central demand placed upon Hamas is its complete disarmament and political dismemberment. The plan mandates that "Hamas and other factions agree to not have any role in the governance of Gaza, directly, indirectly, or in any form," and requires the destruction of all military infrastructure, including tunnels . This process of "decommissioning" weapons would be verified by independent monitors, effectively leaving Gaza without its current governing authority or means of defense .
The plan proposes replacing Hamas's governance with a temporary transitional body. Gaza would be run by a "technocratic, apolitical Palestinian committee" responsible for day-to-day public services . This committee would not be sovereign; it would operate under the oversight and supervision of a new "Board of Peace," headed by President Trump and including other figures like former British Prime Minister Tony Blair . This international body would set the framework and handle funding for Gaza's redevelopment. Furthermore, the United States would work with partners to create a temporary International Stabilization Force (ISF) to deploy in Gaza, train a vetted Palestinian police force, and help secure border areas . This structure places Gaza's immediate future under significant international trusteeship, with ultimate authority far removed from its people.
While the plan states that "Israel will not occupy or annex Gaza," its implementation creates conditions ripe for permanent Israeli security dominance . The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) are not required to withdraw completely at the outset. Instead, they would "progressively hand over" territory to the ISF based on milestones linked to demilitarization, maintaining a "security perimeter presence" until Gaza is deemed "properly secure" . This grants Israel the sole authority to determine when security conditions are met, potentially allowing for an indefinite military presence. The plan's vague reference to a "credential pathway to Palestinian self-determination and statehood" is mentioned only as a distant possibility, contingent upon the successful completion of this process and Palestinian Authority reforms, offering no tangible or immediate political horizon for Palestinians .
The Trump administration's push for this deal comes against a backdrop of previous ceasefire failures and ongoing hostilities that fuel deep Palestinian skepticism. A two-month ceasefire brokered by the US, Qatar, and Egypt in January 2025 collapsed in March when Israel resumed its military offensive, with Netanyahu's office stating the strikes were in response to Hamas's refusal to release hostages . During that ceasefire, Israel was consistently accused of violating the terms by killing Palestinians on a near-daily basis and hindering aid . Just days before the new plan was unveiled, the United States vetoed a UN Security Council resolution for the sixth time that demanded an immediate and permanent ceasefire, with the US representative arguing it failed to condemn Hamas . This consistent diplomatic protection of Israel at the UN, combined with the fact that Israeli tanks were thrusting deeper into Gaza City even as Trump and Netanyahu met, paints a picture for Palestinians of a plan delivered under duress and by a party they view as fundamentally biased.