White House Releases Gaza Ceasefire Plan as Trump Hosts Netanyahu
Hamas has yet to receive a written proposal
by Dave DeCamp
The White House released a 20-point plan
for a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip on Monday, as President Trump hosted
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for his fourth visit to
Washington this year (read the full ceasefire proposal at the end of the
article).
During a joint press conference, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin
Netanyahu said that he has accepted the proposal, though throughout the
genocidal war, he has repeatedly sabotaged ceasefire deals, and there
are several points that Hamas may not accept. Israel also broke the last
ceasefire deal that was signed in January 2025. A Hamas official told Reuters that the group has yet to receive a written peace proposal.
Netanyahu said that if Hamas doesn’t accept the US-Israeli proposal,
Israel will “finish the job” in Gaza, and Trump said he’s willing to
continue backing the slaughter in Gaza. “If Hamas rejects the deal, Bibi
you will have our full backing to do what you have to do,” Trump said.
The deal would involve an immediate ceasefire followed by Hamas
releasing all remaining Israeli captives. Once that happens, Israel will
release 250 life sentence prisoners plus 1,700 Palestinians thrown in
Israeli prisons after October 7th, 2023, including all women and
children detained in that context.
The deal includes a phased Israeli withdrawal, although it would
allow Israel to maintain control of a “buffer zone” inside Gaza’s
border, one of the potential sticking points for Hamas. It will
establish a temporary transitional government headed by “apolitical”
Palestinians that will be overseen by a so-called “Board of Peace.”
Trump will be the chair of the board, and former UK Prime Minister Tony
Blair will also be involved.
The proposal calls for the “demilitarization” of Gaza, which could be
rejected by Hamas since the group has said it wouldn’t disarm until a
Palestinian state is formed. Under the US plan, the US would “work with
Arab and international partners to develop a temporary International
Stabilization Force (ISF) to immediately deploy in Gaza.”
The deal envisions a “reformed” Palestinian Authority eventually
taking over governance in Gaza, an idea Netanyahu has repeatedly
rejected. The outline also says that if the deal is implemented, it may
lead to a “credible pathway to Palestinian self-determination and
statehood,” but it doesn’t mention the Israeli-occupied West Bank, where
Israel continues to expand illegal Jewish settlements.
The proposal also says that Israel will “not occupy or annex Gaza”
and that “no one will be forced to leave Gaza,” a break from Trump’s
previous calls for the removal of the Palestinian population, which
Israeli officials have used to push for the ethnic cleansing of the
territory.
The following is the full ceasefire plan as outlined by the White House:
President Donald J. Trump’s Comprehensive Plan to End the Gaza Conflict:
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.
