Washington: In a significant diplomatic move, United States President Donald Trump on Monday unveiled a comprehensive peace proposal for Gaza after discussions with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the White House. The 20-point framework, which has been under deliberation for months, is designed to bring an immediate halt to hostilities while laying the foundation for long-term stability in the enclave.
Mr. Trump declared that the United States was “very close” to securing an agreement but issued a stark warning that should Hamas decline the proposal, Washington would extend its “complete support” to Israel in continuing its military operations.
Key elements of the framework
According to NBC News, the plan opens with a 72-hour ceasefire during which Hamas would be required to release all hostages. In exchange, Israel would initiate a phased withdrawal of its troops from Gaza. The proposal also envisages amnesty for Hamas members willing to surrender, and safe passage for those choosing to leave the territory.
Humanitarian assistance, to be coordinated by the United Nations, the Red Crescent, and other agencies, would resume immediately. Gaza’s reconstruction, the plan specifies, would proceed “for the benefit of its people,” while the governance of the territory would rest with a Palestinian committee under international supervision. Hamas would be excluded from administrative responsibilities. The framework further rules out the forced displacement of Palestinians and envisages a regional stabilising force, drawn from Arab states, to maintain security.
Diplomatic involvement
The initiative is being steered by senior White House aides, including special envoy Steve Witkoff, Mr. Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner, Vice-President J.D. Vance, and Chief of Staff Susie Wiles. Former British Prime Minister Tony Blair is also expected to play a role in a proposed “Peace Board” for Gaza.
The Palestinian Authority has welcomed the American initiative, emphasising the importance of U.S. partnership in restoring stability. Israel, however, continues to confront mounting diplomatic pressure, as several Western nations have recognised Palestinian statehood and condemned the humanitarian toll of the conflict.
Reactions and challenges
Mr. Trump used the occasion to criticise the United Nations General Assembly’s recent deliberations, accusing it of inertia. Prime Minister Netanyahu, meanwhile, expressed regret over the killing of a Qatari soldier in an Israeli strike, assuring that such an incident “would not recur.”
The timeline for a full Israeli withdrawal remains undefined, with White House Press Secretary Caroline Levitt cautioning that both sides would need to make “significant sacrifices” for the plan to succeed. Analysts note that Washington appears intent on pressing Israel towards compromise, leveraging its influence over the Netanyahu government to secure an end to hostilities.
Hamas response
In its late-night response, Hamas reiterated its demand that any hostage release would only take place under conditions of a permanent ceasefire and complete Israeli withdrawal from Palestinian territories. The Qassam Brigades, Hamas’s armed wing, claimed it had lost contact with two captives amid ongoing bombardments.
The hostage crisis dates back to the unprecedented Hamas-led assault on October 7, 2023, which killed around 1,200 people and saw the abduction of 250 others. Since then, Gaza’s health authorities report that more than 66,000 Palestinians have been killed in Israel’s military offensive.
This proposal marks Washington’s most ambitious attempt to shape the trajectory of the Gaza war, situating the U.S. as both guarantor of Israeli security and mediator in a conflict that has drawn intense global condemnation.
