Summary: Having finished their lengthy remarks, Trump and Netanyahu took no questions as they left to another room to sign documents related to the 20-point peace plan for Gaza, which Trump has hailed as having the backing of key Arab allies across the region. One consistent theme of both Trump’s and Bibi’s in the Monday afternoon presser was that if Hamas doesn’t agree, then “Israel will finish the job” – meaning completely take over and occupy the Gaza Strip while seeking the total eradication of Hamas. “If Hamas rejects your plan, Mr President, or if they supposedly accepted and then basically do everything to counter it, then Israel will finish the job by itself,” Netanyahu made clear, echoing remarks Trump issued just prior.
Trump had made clear that all the hostages are going to be released, but several big, obvious question remain: after several assassinations of leading Hamas officials and commanders, who is left to speak for Hamas? Is Hamas on board with any of this whatsoever? Why would Hamas sign on to its own demise, given the 20-point plan calls for a ‘Board of Peace’ to oversee the disarming of all Hamas militants? Despite all this, Trump said the sides are “very close” to a deal and that he wants to see “eternal peace” in the Middle East. Again, one wonders whether Hamas militants deep inside the tunnels preparing to launch ambushes on IDF infantry columns are aware of any of this.
Interestingly, Trump said he was asked to be head of this Board of Peace, and also mentioned the high-level participation of ex-British Prime Minister Tony Blair. Trump described that “A gentleman known as President Donald J. Trump” will be in charge of something called the “Board of Peace” to oversee post-war Gaza. Tony Blair, “a very good man” will be on the board, others “will be named over the next few days” – Trump added. Does any neutral observer think Hamas or the Palestinians will actually buy into this?
But again, as Trump emphasized, if Hamas doesn’t accept then Israel will have the “absolute right and full backing… to finish the job of destroying the threat of Hamas.” In reality it seems this is all an elaborate scheme for the US to simply and fully greenlight to total and permanent military takeover of Gaza (see the details of the 20-point plan below) – and as a way to get Arab Gulf countries on board, while mitigating the ongoing international pressure, especially from Europe. As an aside, Trump frequently invoked the ‘successes’ of the Abraham Accords and even mused that Iran might join one day (which must have been met with chuckles and derision in Tehran).
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The full Trump 20-point plan for peace just issued by the White House below…
Gaza will be a deradicalized terror-free zone that does not pose a threat to its neighbors.
Gaza will be redeveloped for the benefit of the people of Gaza, who have suffered more than enough.
If both sides agree to this proposal, the war will immediately end. Israeli forces will withdraw to the agreed upon line to prepare for a hostage release. During this time, all military operations, including aerial and artillery bombardment, will be suspended, and battle lines will remain frozen until conditions are met for the complete staged withdrawal.
Within 72 hours of Israel publicly accepting this agreement, all hostages, alive and deceased, will be returned.
Once all hostages are released, Israel will release 250 life sentence prisoners plus 1700 Gazans who were detained after October 7th 2023, including all women and children detained in that context. For every Israeli hostage whose remains are released, Israel will release the remains of 15 deceased Gazans.
Once all hostages are returned, Hamas members who commit to peaceful co-existence and to decommission their weapons will be given amnesty. Members of Hamas who wish to leave Gaza will be provided safe passage to receiving countries.
Upon acceptance of this agreement, full aid will be immediately sent into the Gaza Strip. At a minimum, aid quantities will be consistent with what was included in the January 19, 2025, agreement regarding humanitarian aid, including rehabilitation of infrastructure (water, electricity, sewage), rehabilitation of hospitals and bakeries, and entry of necessary equipment to remove rubble and open roads.
Entry of distribution and aid in the Gaza Strip will proceed without interference from the two parties through the United Nations and its agencies, and the Red Crescent, in addition to other international institutions not associated in any manner with either party. Opening the Rafah crossing in both directions will be subject to the same mechanism implemented under the January 19, 2025 agreement.
Gaza will be governed under the temporary transitional governance of a technocratic, apolitical Palestinian committee, responsible for delivering the day-to-day running of public services and municipalities for the people in Gaza. This committee will be made up of qualified Palestinians and international experts, with oversight and supervision by a new international transitional body, the “Board of Peace,” which will be headed and chaired by President Donald J. Trump, with other members and heads of State to be announced, including Former Prime Minister Tony Blair. This body will set the framework and handle the funding for the redevelopment of Gaza until such time as the Palestinian Authority has completed its reform program, as outlined in various proposals, including President Trump’s peace plan in 2020 and the Saudi-French proposal, and can securely and effectively take back control of Gaza. This body will call on best international standards to create modern and efficient governance that serves the people of Gaza and is conducive to attracting investment.
A Trump economic development plan to rebuild and energize Gaza will be created by convening a panel of experts who have helped birth some of the thriving modern miracle cities in the Middle East. Many thoughtful investment proposals and exciting development ideas have been crafted by well-meaning international groups, and will be considered to synthesize the security and governance frameworks to attract and facilitate these investments that will create jobs, opportunity, and hope for future Gaza.
A special economic zone will be established with preferred tariff and access rates to be negotiated with participating countries.
No one will be forced to leave Gaza, and those who wish to leave will be free to do so and free to return. We will encourage people to stay and offer them the opportunity to build a better Gaza.
Hamas and other factions agree to not have any role in the governance of Gaza, directly, indirectly, or in any form. All military, terror, and offensive infrastructure, including tunnels and weapon production facilities, will be destroyed and not rebuilt. There will be a process of demilitarization of Gaza under the supervision of independent monitors, which will include placing weapons permanently beyond use through an agreed process of decommissioning, and supported by an internationally funded buy back and reintegration program all verified by the independent monitors. New Gaza will be fully committed to building a prosperous economy and to peaceful coexistence with their neighbors.
A guarantee will be provided by regional partners to ensure that Hamas, and the factions, comply with their obligations and that New Gaza poses no threat to its neighbors or its people.
The United States will work with Arab and international partners to develop a temporary International Stabilization Force (ISF) to immediately deploy in Gaza. The ISF will train and provide support to vetted Palestinian police forces in Gaza, and will consult with Jordan and Egypt who have extensive experience in this field. This force will be the long-term internal security solution. The ISF will work with Israel and Egypt to help secure border areas, along with newly trained Palestinian police forces. It is critical to prevent munitions from entering Gaza and to facilitate the rapid and secure flow of goods to rebuild and revitalize Gaza. A deconfliction mechanism will be agreed upon by the parties.
Israel will not occupy or annex Gaza. As the ISF establishes control and stability, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) will withdraw based on standards, milestones, and timeframes linked to demilitarization that will be agreed upon between the IDF, ISF, the guarantors, and the Unites States, with the objective of a secure Gaza that no longer poses a threat to Israel, Egypt, or its citizens. Practically, the IDF will progressively hand over the Gaza territory it occupies to the ISF according to an agreement they will make with the transitional authority until they are withdrawn completely from Gaza, save for a security perimeter presence that will remain until Gaza is properly secure from any resurgent terror threat.
In the event Hamas delays or rejects this proposal, the above, including the scaled-up aid operation, will proceed in the terror-free areas handed over from the IDF to the ISF.
An interfaith dialogue process will be established based on the values of tolerance and peaceful co-existence to try and change mindsets and narratives of Palestinians and Israelis by emphasizing the benefits that can be derived from peace.
While Gaza re-development advances and when the PA reform program is faithfully carried out, the conditions may finally be in place for a credible pathway to Palestinian self-determination and statehood, which we recognize as the aspiration of the Palestinian people.
The United States will establish a dialogue between Israel and the Palestinians to agree on a political horizon for peaceful and prosperous co-existence.
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President Trump is once again hosting Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the White House on Monday, in order to mull the US president’s Gaza peace proposal amid mounting support among Western nations for Palestinian statehood. It remains that of course neither Washington nor Israel is on board with such recognition, but Trump has wanted to see a swift resolution as the war approaches its two-year mark next week.
This will be Netanyahu’s fourth White House visit since Trump returned to office in January. Despite the red carpet constantly being rolled out for him in Washington, he faces growing international isolation, especially in Europe.
During his last Friday speech before the UN General Assembly in New York, he lashed out at the leaders of France, Great Britain, Australia, Canada, and other countries for “unconditionally” recognizing a Palestinian state. At the same time he thanked America for its firm pro-Israel stance.
But Trump is optimistic that a deal with Hamas to secure the release of all hostages can be salvaged. He told Reuters on Sunday that he hopes to gain Netanyahu’s support for a peace framework that would end the conflict in Gaza. “We’re getting a very good response because Bibi wants to make the deal too,” Trump said in a phone interview. “Everybody wants to make the deal.”
Via Reuters
Regional powers have reportedly been involved, including including Saudi Arabia, Qatar, the UAE, Jordan, and Egypt – in planning and backing the agreement, which is crucial for its chances of success.
“It’s called peace in the Middle East – more than Gaza. Gaza is part of it, but it’s peace in the Middle East,” Trump said. Per the published schedule for Monday:
The meeting is scheduled to begin at 11 a.m. local time (6 p.m. in Israel), when Trump will greet Netanyahu, according to the itinerary. The two men will then hold a meeting and sit for a meal together, followed by the press conference, scheduled for 1:15 p.m.
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt has previewed to reporters that “both sides have to give up a little bit and might leave the table a little bit unhappy.” But it seems this conversation is only being had with one side, given no signs of direct Hamas involvement in these discussions.
The reality is that this month’s Israeli attack on Hamas officials in Doha was likely the straw that broke the camel’s back in terms of ending the possibility of negotiations. Hamas says its negotiating team was lured to Qatar precisely with the promise of a new deal on the horizon, only to be attacked in a brazen Israeli operation, leaving five dead, as as well as a Qatari security guard.
So despite Trump’s optimism for the future, chances aren’t great, also at a time the IDF is pursuing the total takeover of Gaza City.
Hamas has meanwhile made clear that it won’t negotiate its own demise, while also wanting a full Israeli military withdrawal before all remaining hostages are released, but Netanyahu is still pledging to not end IDF operations until the complete eradication of Hamas is realized.
Trump reportedly wants to see an immediate halt to all military operations, but will Israel comply? Will Hamas comply? Both seem remain locked in a zero sum fight at this point, so it seems increasingly unlikely.
Earlier, we previewed the president’s 21-point plan for ending the Gaza war, which was first revealed over the weekend in Israeli media sources.
