Trump announces Gaza peace plan, with Netanyahu backing
Trump announces Gaza peace plan, with Netanyahu backing
Proposal calls for release of hostages within 48 hours of ceasefire
President Donald Trump unveiled a wide-ranging Gaza peace plan Monday and won backing from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
The 20-point plan, which Trump has also circulated to Arab leaders, calls for a ceasefire, release of hostages by Hamas, disarmament of Hamas and gradual Israeli withdrawal from Gaza.
Other key points include deployment of a “temporary international stabilisation force” and creation of a transitional authority headed by Trump himself and featuring other foreign leaders.
The deal would demand resistance movement Hamas fighters fully disarm and be excluded from future roles in the government. However, those who agreed to “peaceful co-existence” would be given amnesty.
Following Israeli withdrawal, the borders would be opened to aid and investment.
In a crucial change from Trump’s earlier apparent goals, Palestinians will not be forced to leave Gaza and instead, the document said, “we will encourage people to stay and offer them the opportunity to build a better Gaza.”
Netanyahu made clear he was in favour, saying it “achieves our war aims,” while Trump said he was hopeful that Hamas would also give its backing.
Approval from all sides was “beyond very close,” Trump said. Proposal calls for release of hostages within 48 hours of ceasefire.
However, many important details remained to be clarified.
The US president had met key Arab leaders at the United Nations last week and said Sunday on social media that ” all are on board for something special, first time ever”.
Normally a staunch ally of Netanyahu, the US president has shown increasing signs of frustration ahead of the Israeli premier’s fourth White House visit since Trump’s return to power.
Trump was infuriated by Israel’s recent strike on Hamas members in key US ally Qatar.
And he warned Netanyahu last week against annexing the Israeli-occupied West Bank, as some of Netanyahu’s cabinet members have urged, a move that would seriously complicate the route to Palestinian statehood.
Netanyahu’s coalition government is propped up by the far-right ministers who oppose a peace deal.
Hamas’ apparent absence from the negotiations has raised questions about the prospects for the latest initiative.
Meanwhile, Israeli strikes continued across the Gaza Strip, killing at least four people in Khan Younis, according to the Hamas-run territory’s civil defense agency.
Families of Israeli hostages held in Gaza urged Trump to uphold his Gaza proposal.
And in Gaza, people expressed a mix of hope, exhaustion and distrust ahead of the White House meeting.
Israel’s offensive has killed 66,055 Palestinians, also mostly civilians, according to health ministry figures in the Hamas-run territory.
