Washington, USA – United States President Donald Trump presented a peace plan for Gaza on Monday that includes the creation of a transitional government without Hamas supervised by himself, the demilitarization of the Strip, and the possibility of a Palestinian state in the future.
The president detailed his 20-point proposal after meeting at the White House with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who expressed his support for the initiative because it coincided with the objectives of the Israeli offensive on the enclave.
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At a joint press conference, at which no questions were taken, Trump said the ball is now in Hamas’ court and warned that if the group rejects the plan, the US will give its “full backing” to Israel to continue its offensive.
The plan calls for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, the gradual withdrawal of Israeli troops, and the release within 72 hours of the 48 hostages, both alive and dead, who remain in Hamas’ hands.
In exchange, Israel should release 250 Palestinian prisoners sentenced to life imprisonment and 1,700 Gazans detained after the Oct 7, 2023, attacks.
If the agreement is accepted, the US guarantees the delivery of all necessary humanitarian aid, which would be distributed through the UN.
A government under Trump’s tutelage without Hamas
The plan also envisages the total disarmament of Hamas, which would be excluded from the governance of the Strip, and the establishment of a transitional government made up of Palestinian technocrats and international experts, supervised by a “Peace Board” chaired by Trump and including former British Prime Minister Tony Blair (1997-2007).
Subsequently, a reformed Palestinian Authority would be responsible for taking control of Gaza, although Netanyahu warned that this body could not play a role in the future of the enclave without a “radical reform.”
The Israeli prime minister expressed his support for Trump’s proposal, noting that it coincided with Israel’s objectives in the war, which are the release of hostages, the disarmament of Hamas, the demilitarization of Gaza, Israeli control of the enclave’s security, and the exclusion of Hamas from its future government.
Netanyahu insisted that if Hamas rejects the proposal, Israel would “finish the job by itself.”
“This can be done the easy way, or it can be done the hard way, but it will be done,” he added.
Despite Netanyahu’s expressed support for the plan, the PM will face internal opposition within his own government, as Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, a far-right settler, warned that he will not tolerate concessions on issues such as the rejection of a Palestinian state or the indefinite presence of the Israeli army in Gaza.
Towards a Palestinian state?
Trump’s program rules out Israeli annexation of Gaza, includes a reconstruction and economic development plan for the Strip, prohibits the forced displacement of Gazans, and recognizes the right of return for those who leave voluntarily.
This last point represents a change from Trump’s proposal made shortly after returning to the White House in January, when he suggested expelling the population of Gaza to build a real estate project called the “Middle East Riviera.”
Trump also promised Arab and Muslim leaders last week, including those from Qatar, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, and Turkey, that he would not allow Israel to annex the occupied West Bank, and then publicly reiterated this.
The United States also committed to mediate a dialogue between Israel and the Palestinians to “agree on a political horizon for peaceful coexistence” and opened the door to “the conditions may finally be in place” for the future creation of a Palestinian state.
The initiative comes amid growing international isolation of Israel for its offensive in Gaza, increasingly described by many as genocide, and following the recognition of the Palestinian state by the United Kingdom and France, traditional allies of Tel Aviv, which has been condemned by the United States and Israel.
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