In a bold diplomatic push, President Donald Trump has unveiled a comprehensive 20-point peace plan aimed at ending the war in Gaza. The proposal, which has been accepted by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, lays out an immediate ceasefire, a staged hostage and prisoner exchange, the complete deradicalisation and demilitarisation of Gaza, and the establishment of an internationally supervised transitional government. Hamas is currently reviewing the terms.
The plan’s core elements centre on three phases: an immediate cessation of hostilities and exchange of captives; a long-term restructuring of Gaza’s security and governance to permanently exclude Hamas; and a major economic redevelopment initiative. A key detail is the formation of a “Board of Peace,” chaired by President Trump and including figures like Former Prime Minister Tony Blair, to oversee Gaza’s transition and reconstruction until the reformed Palestinian Authority (PA) can take control.
The 20-Point plan outlined
The proposal is structured around five key themes:
Immediate ceasefire and hostage exchange (Points 3-6)
The war will immediately end upon agreement. Hostage and prisoner exchange is front-loaded to occur at the start of the process.
- Gaza will be a deradicalised terror-free zone.
- Gaza will be redeveloped for the benefit of its people.
- If accepted, the war will immediately end, Israeli forces will withdraw to an agreed line, and all military operations will be suspended.
- All hostages (alive and deceased) will be returned within 72 hours of Israel’s public acceptance.
- Once hostages are released, Israel will release 250 life sentence prisoners plus 1,700 Gazans detained post-Oct. 7, 2023 (including all women and children). Remains of 15 deceased Gazans will be released for every deceased Israeli hostage.
- Hamas members who commit to peace and decommissioning weapons will be given amnesty. Others will receive safe passage to receiving countries.
Humanitarian aid and economic development (Points 7-8, 10-12)
Immediate and sustained aid delivery, paired with a major international economic overhaul.
- Full aid will be immediately sent into Gaza, consistent with the Jan. 19, 2025 agreement for infrastructure, hospitals, and bakeries.
- Aid entry and distribution will proceed without interference via the UN, Red Crescent, and other non-associated international institutions.
- Gaza will be governed by a technocratic, apolitical Palestinian committee under the oversight of a new international body, the “Board of Peace.”
- A Trump economic development plan will be created by a panel of experts to rebuild and energise Gaza.
- A special economic zone with preferred tariff and access rates will be established.
- No one will be forced to leave Gaza, and those who leave will be free to return.
Transitional governance and security (Points 9, 13-16)
Hamas must be completely excluded from governance, and security will be managed by an international force.
- Hamas and other factions must agree to no role in governance (direct or indirect). All military and terror infrastructure, including tunnels, will be destroyed and not rebuilt. Gaza will be demilitarised under independent monitors with a weapons buy-back programme.
- Regional partners will provide a guarantee of compliance and that “New Gaza” poses no threat.
- The U.S. will work with partners to develop a temporary International Stabilisation Force (ISF) to immediately deploy, train vetted Palestinian police, and secure border areas.
- Israel will not occupy or annex Gaza. The IDF will progressively hand over territory to the ISF based on agreed timeframes and milestones linked to demilitarisation, maintaining only a security perimeter until the terror threat is properly secure.
Contingency and political horizon (Points 17-20)
The plan contains a contingency if Hamas rejects the deal and outlines a long-term political path.
- If Hamas rejects the proposal, the aid operation will proceed in terror-free areas handed over from the IDF to the ISF.
- An interfaith dialogue process will be established to change mindsets and narratives toward tolerance.
- A credible pathway to Palestinian self-determination and statehood may be in place when Gaza redevelopment advances and the PA reform programme is faithfully carried out.
- The U.S. will establish a dialogue between Israel and the Palestinians to agree on a political horizon for peaceful and prosperous co-existence.
Outlook While international support from certain world leaders has been cautious but positive, and Netanyahu has formally accepted, the plan’s future hinges on the response from Hamas, who is expected to reject the demilitarisation and exclusion from governance elements, forcing a critical decision point for the conflict’s future.
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