Terror-Free Zone, Hostages Release, SEZ: Contours of Trump’s Gaza Peace Plan; Who Will Govern The Region?
Trump said Israel would have his “full backing to finish the job of destroying the threat of Hamas” if the deal is rejected. Image courtesy: AI-generated picture via Sora
Just around a week before it completes two years, US President Donald Trump has unveiled a 20-point Gaza Peace plan, dubbing it as a “historic day”. He met Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the White House to unveil what he calls a game-ending peace deal for Gaza.
In the war that has been going on since October 7, 2023, around 65,000 civilians in Gaza have lost their lives. But finally, a hope seems to have shown up for the people there with Trump’s Gaza peace plan.
US President Trump framed the moment as another conflict he has helped bring to an end. announcing a 20-point plan and the formation of a new “Board of Peace” to oversee what he described as a pathway to “eternal peace” in the Middle East. Before this, he has claimed to have ended 7 wars in 7 months.
What is Trump’s ‘Board of Peace’?
Chaired by the US President himself, this newly announced board would include Palestinian representatives, international experts, and former UK Prime Minister Tony Blair. Trump insisted that Hamas and other militant factions will have zero involvement in future Gaza governance.
With this, Trump plans to bring “eternal peace” in the middle east.
Gaza peace plan: How is Trump positioning himself?
Sitting beside Netanyahu, Trump said Israel would have his “full backing to finish the job of destroying the threat of Hamas” if the deal is rejected. But he expressed optimism that Hamas would accept, claiming “everyone else” already had. Netanyahu praised Trump as “the greatest friend Israel has ever had in the White House”.
Saying so, the Israel PM warned Hamas that hostages, dead or alive, must be returned within 72 hours of accepting the plan. Otherwise, he said, Israel would “finish the job,” by force if necessary.
Who helped shape the Gaza peace deal?
Trump claimed multiple regional players were involved in discussions: Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Turkey, Jordan, Indonesia, Egypt, and Pakistan. He credited their roles but made it clear that a Hamas refusal would trigger American backing for renewed Israeli military action.
Gaza peace proposal: What are the core terms?
1. Gaza will be a deradicalized terror-free zone that does not pose a threat to its neighbors.
2. Gaza will be redeveloped for the benefit of the people of Gaza, who have suffered more than enough.
3. War will immediately end if both sides agree to this proposal. 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.
4. Within 72 hours of Israel publicly accepting this agreement, all hostages, alive and deceased, will be returned.
5. 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.
6. The plan calls for Gaza to “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.
7. “Once all hostages are returned, Hamas members who commit to peaceful co-existence and to decommission their weapons will be given amnesty,” the proposal says. “Members of Hamas who wish to leave Gaza will be provided safe passage to receiving countries.”
8. “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.
9. Entry of distribution and aid in the Gaza Strip will proceed without interference from the two parties.
10. A Trump economic development plan to rebuild and energize Gaza will be created by convening a panel of experts.
11. A special economic zone will be established with preferred tariff and access rates to be negotiated with participating countries.
12. No one will be forced to leave Gaza, and those who wish to leave will be free to do so and free to return.
13. Hamas and other factions agree to not have any role in the governance of Gaza, directly, indirectly, or in any form.
14. 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.
15. The United States will work with Arab and international partners to develop a temporary International Stabilization Force (ISF) to immediately deploy in Gaza.
16. Israel will not occupy or annex Gaza. As the ISF establishes control and stability, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) will withdraw.
17. 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.
18. 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.
19. 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.
20. The United States will establish a dialogue between Israel and the Palestinians to agree on a political horizon for peaceful and prosperous co-existence.
