Sunday, September 28, 2025 - The Trump administration has proposed a comprehensive 21-point Gaza peace plan that calls for the release of all Israeli hostages and sets out a roadmap for the territory's post-war future, according to a source familiar with the proposal.
U.S. President Donald Trump has voiced confidence, saying the
two sides are "very close" to a deal, just days after his envoy said
a "breakthrough" was possible following meetings with Arab states at
the United Nations.
The core of the plan mandates the release of all
hostages—about 20 of whom are thought to be still alive—within 48 hours of an
agreement, in exchange for a phased withdrawal of Israeli troops from Gaza.
Crucially, the plan would deny Hamas any future role in the governance of Gaza,
instead calling for two levels of interim governance: an overarching
international body and a Palestinian committee.
Though no timeline is given for the international body to
pass leadership to the Palestinian Authority (PA), a body the Israeli
government has largely rejected for a role in Gaza, the blueprint recognizes
the aspiration for a Palestinian state, a provision that is deeply problematic
for key members of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s coalition.
The plan was presented to leaders from Muslim nations,
including Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Turkey, and Pakistan, at the United
Nations, and also explicitly says Israel will not attack Qatar again following
a recent targeting of Hamas leaders in Doha.
Netanyahu, however, has publicly vowed to continue the war
until Hamas is destroyed, reiterating his fierce opposition to a Palestinian
state while speaking at the UN General Assembly. He compared granting the
Palestinians a state near Jerusalem to "giving al-Qaeda a state one mile
from New York City after September 11.”
The U.S. blueprint further states there cannot be any forced
displacement of Gaza's population, countering earlier comments by Trump about
relocating the territory's entire population.
The proposal has exposed sharp divisions within the Israeli
political establishment. Far-right ministers, including Minister of National
Security Itamar Ben Gvir, immediately came out in opposition, threatening to
collapse the government if the war comes to an end before Hamas is eradicated.
Ben Gvir stated that Netanyahu "does not have a mandate
to end the war without the complete defeat of Hamas.”
However, Netanyahu's Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar posted
that he trusts the prime minister to represent Israel’s interests, and
opposition leader Yair Lapid offered a crucial safety net: "Netanyahu has
a safety net from me for a hostage deal and an end to the war," ensuring a
parliamentary majority despite the coalition's internal fighting.
Meanwhile, the Israeli military campaign continues unabated,
with three military divisions extending their control over Gaza City. Netanyahu
is scheduled to meet with President Trump at the White House on Monday.
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