US President, Donald Trump has proposed a 20-point peace plan to end the war in Gaza after holding talks with Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, who welcomed the proposal.
The new proposal, which calls for the disarmament of Hamas, has been welcomed by the Palestinian Authority (PA), which governs in the occupied West Bank, along with some regional Arab and Western countries.
Trump said, “we’re beyond very close” to ending the war in Gaza at a news conference with Netanyahu.
Netanyahu praised Trump, saying, “I support your plan to end the war in Gaza, which achieves our war aims.”
If the plan is accepted by both sides, the war is to end immediately, with all captives held in Gaza alive and dead returned within 72 hours, and Palestinian prisoners released.
Aside a number of things, Trump’s plan proposes a “technocratic” leadership of Palestinians, unaffiliated with any political faction, will govern Gaza on a day-to-day basis after the end of the war.
However, that Palestinian leadership will be selected not by the Palestinian people, but by a new international body that would oversee the implementation of the peace plan.
Trump said this organisation, called the “board of peace,” would be tasked with ensuring the agreement’s success and bringing together key regional and international leaders.
He said that the oversight body would be chaired by him, personally and explained that the body would also include other leaders.
Reacting to the proposal, the PA said that it welcomes the “sincere and tireless efforts to end the war on Gaza, and affirms its confidence in his ability to find a path to peace.”
The Foreign Ministers of Egypt, Indonesia, Jordan, Pakistan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Turkiye, UAE released a joint statement welcoming Trump’s “sincere efforts to end the war in Gaza, and assert their confidence in his ability to find a path to peace.”
They welcomed the announcement by 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 statement went on to say that the countries are willing to work with the United States to end the war in Gaza through a comprehensive deal that ensures unrestricted delivery of sufficient humanitarian aid to Gaza, no displacement of the Palestinians, the release of hostages, a security mechanism that guarantees the security of all sides, full Israeli withdrawal, “rebuilds Gaza and creates a path for a just peace on the basis of the two state solution, under which Gaza is fully integrated with the West Bank in a Palestinian state in accordance with international law as key to achieving regional stability and security.”
In a statement, German Foreign Minister, Johann Wadephul referred to the deal as a “unique opportunity to end the horrific war.”
“Finally, there is hope for Israelis and Palestinians that this war could soon be over. This opportunity must not be missed. Hamas must seize it. I urge all those who can influence Hamas to do so now.”
Johann Wadephul
European Council President, Antonio Costa urged all parties to “seize this moment to give peace a genuine chance,” in a post on X welcoming the deal.
“The situation in Gaza is intolerable. Hostilities must end, and all hostages must be released immediately. The Israeli and Palestinian people deserve to live side by side, in peace and security, free from violence and terrorism.”
Antonio Costa
Italy welcomed the proposal in a statement, saying it “could mark a turning point, enabling a permanent cessation of hostilities, the immediate release of all hostages, and full and secure humanitarian access for the civilian population.”
It added that Hamas “now has the opportunity to end it [the war] by releasing the hostages, agreeing to have no role in Gaza’s future, and fully disarming.”
Hamas Studying Trump’s Peace Plan
Meanwhile, Hamas saif that it is studying the US proposal “in good faith.”
However, the Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ), a Palestinian armed group fighting alongside Hamas, called Trump’s plan a “recipe for continued aggression against the Palestinian people.”
The group claimed that through this, Israel is “attempting – via the United States – to impose what it could not achieve through war.” It added, “Therefore, we consider the American-Israeli declaration a formula for igniting the region.”
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