The Latest: Trump’s Gaza Peace Plan and How It Could End the War
- Elon Gilad
- Sep 29
- 9 min read
Updated: Sep 30
On September 29, President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu jointly announced a comprehensive peace proposal to end the war in Gaza. The plan – initially drafted with 21 points but released by the White House as a 20-point document – received unprecedented support from eight Arab and Muslim nations as well as major European powers. It demands Hamas’s complete disarmament and release of all hostages within 72 hours in exchange for Gaza’s reconstruction under international supervision.
Trump gave Hamas until October 3 to respond, warning that rejection would give Israel his "full backing" to continue military operations.
The proposal marks a dramatic shift from Trump’s February plan to relocate Palestinians and redevelop Gaza. The new framework prohibits forced displacement and acknowledges Palestinian aspirations for statehood.
Trump's peace plan: Key points
The plan was first presented to Arab leaders on September 24 during UN General Assembly meetings in New York. Trump’s Special Envoy Steve Witkoff told The Times of Israel he was "confident" of a breakthrough “in the coming days.”
Foreign ministers from Saudi Arabia, Jordan, UAE, Egypt, Indonesia, Turkey, Pakistan, and Qatar issued a joint statement pledging to “cooperate with President Trump and emphasize the importance of his leadership in order to end the war.” French President Emmanuel Macron said on X that “Hamas has no choice but to immediately release all hostages and follow this plan.” UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer said in a statement that the effort was “profoundly welcome.”
Core demands and reconstruction framework
The plan’s immediate requirement appears in Point 4: all hostages – both living and deceased – must be returned within 72 hours of Israel publicly accepting the agreement. 48 hostages remain in Gaza, 26 of whom have been declared dead.
Point 13 eliminates Hamas as a governing entity, stating that “Hamas and other factions agree to not have any role in the governance of Gaza, directly, indirectly, or in any form,” according to the White House document. The provision requires the destruction of all military infrastructure, including tunnels and weapon production facilities, with “demilitarization of Gaza under the supervision of independent monitors.” An internationally funded buyback program would support disarmament efforts.
Point 6 offers conditional amnesty to Hamas members who “commit to peaceful co-existence and to decommission their weapons,” while those wishing to leave would receive “safe passage to receiving countries.” No country has publicly agreed to accept Hamas members. Point 3 promises an immediate ceasefire with Israeli forces withdrawing to “agreed upon lines,” though Point 16 allows Israel to maintain “a security perimeter presence that will remain until Gaza is properly secure from any resurgent terror threat” – an undefined timeline.
Point 9 establishes a “Board of Peace” that would be “headed and chaired by President Donald J. Trump,” with former British Prime Minister Tony Blair among its members — a pick meant to lend high-profile mediation experience (Good Friday Agreement; former Quartet envoy), though his Iraq War legacy makes him a divisive figure. This body would “set the framework and handle the funding for the redevelopment of Gaza” until the Palestinian Authority can “securely and effectively take back control.” Day-to-day administration would fall to a “technocratic, apolitical Palestinian committee” of qualified Palestinians and international experts.
Point 15 calls for a “temporary International Stabilization Force” developed with Arab and international partners to deploy in Gaza, training Palestinian police forces in consultation with Jordan and Egypt. The IDF would progressively transfer territory according to milestones “linked to demilitarization.” Witkoff told Axios that realistic reconstruction timelines span 15-25 years.
Point 7 mandates “full aid will be immediately sent into the Gaza Strip” at minimum quantities of 600 trucks per day, including rehabilitation of water, electricity, and medical infrastructure. Point 10 promises a “Trump economic development plan” created by experts who have “helped birth some of the thriving modern miracle cities in the Middle East,” while Point 11 establishes a “special economic zone” with preferred tariff rates.
International support reflects diplomatic shift
The joint statement from eight Arab and Muslim nations represents a diplomatic achievement for Trump. Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi said on X that he appreciated “the proposals [Trump] presented during his meeting yesterday in New York with a number of Arab and Islamic leaders, which I view as an important foundation upon which we can build.” Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan praised Trump’s “efforts and leadership aimed at halting the bloodshed in Gaza,” Reuters reported.
Qatar’s Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani said of Trump that “we count on you and your leadership … to end this war,” though he described Israel’s objective as attempting “to destroy Gaza.”
European leaders have expressed support for the plan. German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul said in a statement that “finally, there is hope for Israelis and Palestinians that this war could soon be over. This opportunity must not be missed.” Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said in a statement, “The proposal… may be a turning point in this process, allowing for a permanent cessation of the hostilities, the immediate release of all the hostages and full and safe humanitarian access for the civilian population to be achieved.”
Hamas and Netanyahu face difficult choices
Hamas has not officially accepted or rejected the plan as of September 30. With the deadline looming, the terrorist organization faces a difficult choice: either release the hostages and effectively disband, thus ending the war, or reject the plan and face further attacks by the IDF with the full backing of the US.
During their joint press conference, Trump told Netanyahu that “Bibi, you’d have our full backing to do what you would have to do” if Hamas rejects, with Netanyahu responding that “Israel will finish the job by itself.” Trump noted that “over 20,000 [Hamas fighters] have been killed. Their leadership has been killed three times over.”
While Netanyahu publicly accepted the plan on September 29, calling it a “historic day for peace,” he simultaneously stated Gaza would be governed “neither by Hamas nor by the Palestinian Authority.”
“We are deeply grateful to President Trump and Prime Minister Netanyahu for this proposal, which gives us tremendous hope for the return of our loved ones home,” Ilan Dalal, father of Guy Gilboa Dalal, who is being held in Gaza, said in response to the plan.
“Finally, we have a framework that includes the release of all the hostages and an end to the war. Now, all world leaders who support ending the war, freeing all the hostages, and building a better future for both Israelis and Palestinians, must pressure Hamas to accept this deal and end this tragedy.”
Point 19 acknowledges that “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” – language representing Trump’s first acknowledgment of Palestinian statehood as a legitimate goal.
Point 12 explicitly states that “no one will be forced to leave Gaza.”
Wrap up
While the plan proposed has its difficulties, the plan, with its wide international support, proves to be the most viable path to ending the conflict to date. The humanitarian catastrophe – with over 66,000 Palestinians killed according to Hamas-run health authorities, and 1,200 Israelis killed on October 7, 2023, with 48 hostages still held – creates desperate pressure for resolution. Hamas must respond by October 3. If it rejects, Trump has promised Israel full support to continue operations. If it accepts, the group ceases to exist in any meaningful form. The world will know within days whether unprecedented international alignment can overcome these contradictions or whether the Gaza war continues without a foreseeable end.
The full proposal
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.
Elon Gilad is an Israeli author, journalist, and linguist. His work focuses on uncovering the historical roots of contemporary issues, particularly in current affairs, Jewish history, and the Hebrew language. Gilad is the author of "The Secret History of Judaism." His analytical pieces draw on his diverse background to provide insights into today's complex issues, explaining current situations through the lens of history.