At 7:30am this morning, one week before the second anniversary of October 7, President Trump and Prime Minister Netanyahu began a press conference at the White House to announce a plan for “peace in the Middle East” including a reconstruction and governance plan for Gaza and an expansion of Trump’s first term Abraham Accords.
The 20 point plan, which has had input from many nations, is focused on ending the war, returning the hostages and setting the conditions for enduring security for the Palestinians and Israel.
The 20 point plan, which has had input from many nations, is focused on ending the war, returning the hostages and setting the conditions for enduring security for the Palestinians and Israel.
Trump thanked the “leaders of the Arab and Muslim nations for their support” along with many allies in Europe in developing the proposal noting that, “we can never forgive October 7”. Regional powers including Saudi Arabia, Qatar, the UAE, Jordan and Egypt are said to have been involved.
If the plan is accepted by Hamas, it will mean an immediate end to the two year war and the return of all hostages within 72 hours - said by Trump to consist of 20 people and the bodies of 32 others, although exact numbers vary.
The Jerusalem Post confirmed that after the hostages are returned, Israel would release 250 prisoners serving life sentences and about 1,700 Gazans detained after October 7 with strict sequencing to reduce the risk that the plan collapses.
Arab and Muslin leaders have agreed to demilitarise Gaza under the oversight of an international board called the Board of Peace which will be headed by Trump and include former British Prime Minister Tony Blair. Other world leaders are set to be announced as members in the coming days.
The Board of Peace will work with the World Bank to oversee the reconstruction of Gaza for the benefit of the Gazan people and to support a technocratic, apolitical Palestinian governance committee.
As part of the plan, the 400 miles of terror tunnels constructed by Hamas will be destroyed along with their production facilities.
Trump said that he had not dealt directly with Hamas but that Arab and Muslim countries will deal with them, noting that, “I think they probably have an understanding.”
Trump challenged the Palestinians to take responsibility “for their destiny”. If Hamas does not accept the deal, then Israel will have the full US backing, “to finish the job of destroying the threat of Hamas”.
The Jerusalem Post reported that Hamas members that commit to peace and give up their weapons will be given amnesty, and offered safe passage to third countries if they chose to leave Gaza.
Unlike earlier leaked drafts there is no mention of Judea and Samaria. Previous drafts declared that Israel must not annex them but this has been dropped.
The plan includes a trilateral agreement between Qatar, Israel and US aimed at airing and resolving grievances between the two Middle Eastern countries. Trump facilitated a call between Netanyahu and the Emir of Qatar Mohammed Al Thani to establish the beginnings of a relationship.
During the call Netanyahu expressed his regret that by targeting Hamas leadership during hostage negotiations, Israel violated Qatari sovereignty and affirmed that Israel will not conduct such attacks in the future against Qatar.
For his part, at his fourth White House visit since Trump returned to office in January, Netanyahu welcomed the plan as a blueprint to “win the war and expand the peace”. He confirmed that Israel will maintain security responsibility for Gaza for the near future and that there would be a “modest withdrawal” timed with the hostage release.
“If Hamas rejects your plan Mr President, or if they supposedly accept and then basically do everything to counter it, then Israel will finish the job by itself”, Netanyahu said, echoing similar remarks made by Trump earlier in the press conference.
Further military withdrawals would be linked to demilitarisation steps.
If the plan is accepted by Hamas, it will mean an immediate end to the two year war and the return of all hostages within 72 hours - said by Trump to consist of 20 people and the bodies of 32 others, although exact numbers vary.
The Jerusalem Post confirmed that after the hostages are returned, Israel would release 250 prisoners serving life sentences and about 1,700 Gazans detained after October 7 with strict sequencing to reduce the risk that the plan collapses.
Arab and Muslin leaders have agreed to demilitarise Gaza under the oversight of an international board called the Board of Peace which will be headed by Trump and include former British Prime Minister Tony Blair. Other world leaders are set to be announced as members in the coming days.
The Board of Peace will work with the World Bank to oversee the reconstruction of Gaza for the benefit of the Gazan people and to support a technocratic, apolitical Palestinian governance committee.
As part of the plan, the 400 miles of terror tunnels constructed by Hamas will be destroyed along with their production facilities.
Trump said that he had not dealt directly with Hamas but that Arab and Muslim countries will deal with them, noting that, “I think they probably have an understanding.”
Trump challenged the Palestinians to take responsibility “for their destiny”. If Hamas does not accept the deal, then Israel will have the full US backing, “to finish the job of destroying the threat of Hamas”.
The Jerusalem Post reported that Hamas members that commit to peace and give up their weapons will be given amnesty, and offered safe passage to third countries if they chose to leave Gaza.
Unlike earlier leaked drafts there is no mention of Judea and Samaria. Previous drafts declared that Israel must not annex them but this has been dropped.
The plan includes a trilateral agreement between Qatar, Israel and US aimed at airing and resolving grievances between the two Middle Eastern countries. Trump facilitated a call between Netanyahu and the Emir of Qatar Mohammed Al Thani to establish the beginnings of a relationship.
During the call Netanyahu expressed his regret that by targeting Hamas leadership during hostage negotiations, Israel violated Qatari sovereignty and affirmed that Israel will not conduct such attacks in the future against Qatar.
For his part, at his fourth White House visit since Trump returned to office in January, Netanyahu welcomed the plan as a blueprint to “win the war and expand the peace”. He confirmed that Israel will maintain security responsibility for Gaza for the near future and that there would be a “modest withdrawal” timed with the hostage release.
“If Hamas rejects your plan Mr President, or if they supposedly accept and then basically do everything to counter it, then Israel will finish the job by itself”, Netanyahu said, echoing similar remarks made by Trump earlier in the press conference.
Further military withdrawals would be linked to demilitarisation steps.
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The Palestinian Authority is intended to be the end-state authority, however Netanyahu stated that before that can happen the Palestinian Authority must undergoing a “radical transformation” and fundamental change which includes ending “pay to slay”, replacing anti-semitic text books in schools, and recognising the Jewish State.
The leader of the Opposition in Israel, Yair Lapid, posted his support for the plan stating, “President Trump’s plan is the right basis for a hostage deal and ending the war.” Opposition support will significantly reduce the influence of hardliners within Netanyahu’s government such as the hardliner, Bezalel Smotrich.
The plans feasibility rests on three fundamental tests: mutual acceptance by Israel and Hamas, the enforcement of security and disarmament inside Gaza, and the sustained funding and political backing of international and regional partners.
Within the last few minutes, Fox News is reporting that “Qatar’s Prime Minister and Egypt’s intelligence chief just met with Hamas negotiators and shared the 20 point plan. The Hamas negotiators said they would review it in good faith and provide a response.”
Lawyer and writer Philip Crump explores political, legal and cultural issues facing New Zealand. Sometimes known as Thomas Cranmer. This article was published HERE
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