Trump’s Peace Plan of Gaza

In September 2025, U.S. President Donald Trump unveiled a bold 20-point peace plan aimed at ending the devastating war in Gaza. With over 66,000 Palestinians reportedly killed since October 2023 (while 0.4 million are allegedly missing as suspected buried under the rubbles), the proposal sought to halt hostilities, release captives, and lay the groundwork for reconstruction. While initially welcomed by several Muslim-majority countries, the plan quickly drew criticism and raised concerns about its implications for the long-standing two-state solution.

Full Postulates of Trump’s Gaza Peace Plan

Trump’s peace framework, released on September 29, 2025, includes the following key provisions

1. Gaza will be a deracialized 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. 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.
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 1,700 Gazans who were detained after 7 October 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. 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.
7. 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 19 January 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.
8. 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 19 January 2025 agreement.
9. 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 programme, 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.
10. A Trump economic development plan to rebuild and energise 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.
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. We will encourage people to stay and offer them the opportunity to build a better Gaza.
13. 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 demilitarisation 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 programme all verified by the independent monitors. New Gaza will be fully committed to building a prosperous economy and to peaceful coexistence with their neighbours.
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 neighbours or its people.
15. The United States will work with Arab and international partners to develop a temporary International Stabilisation 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.
16. 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 United 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.
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 by emphasizing the benefits that can be derived from peace.
19. While Gaza re-development advances and when the PA reform programme is faithfully carried out, the conditions may finally be in place for a credible pathway to Palestinian self-determination and statehood, which we recognise as the aspiration of the Palestinian people.
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.

Initial Endorsements from Muslim Countries

The plan was initially welcomed by a coalition of Muslim-majority nations, including:

• Saudi Arabia
• Jordan
• United Arab Emirates (UAE)
• Indonesia
• Pakistan
• Turkey
• Qatar
• Egypt

These countries issued a joint statement praising Trump’s “sincere efforts” and expressing confidence in his ability to broker peace. Muslim countries supported the plan because they wanted to end the bloodshed and stabilize the region, especially after Israeli strikes reached Lebanon, Syria, Yemen, and even Qatar.

Reversal and Backtracking

Despite initial optimism, several of these countries began distancing themselves from the plan due to:

• Exclusion of Hamas: Many viewed sidelining Hamas as unrealistic and destabilizing.
• Lack of Palestinian Consensus: Observers criticized the plan for prioritizing Israel’s security interests while failing to incorporate meaningful Palestinian input.
• Regional Sovereignty Violations: Israel’s strike on Doha, Qatar, during peace talks sparked outrage and undermined trust.
• Domestic Pressure: Governments faced backlash from citizens demanding stronger solidarity with Palestinians.

As a result, countries like Qatar, Turkey, and Indonesia began voicing reservations, emphasizing the need for a more balanced and inclusive approach.

Criticism of the Peace Plan

The plan faced sharp criticism from various quarters:

• Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ): Called it a “recipe for continued aggression” and accused Israel of using the U.S. to impose its will.
• Hard-Right Israeli Politicians: Rejected the plan for conceding too much to Palestinians.
• Human Rights Advocates: Argued the plan lacked accountability for war crimes and failed to address long-term justice.
• Analysts: Warned that excluding Hamas and imposing external governance could lead to further fragmentation and unrest.

Impact on the Two-State Solution

While the plan claims to support a two-state framework, critics argue it undermines the concept in several ways:

• Technocratic Governance: Imposing a temporary administration without democratic legitimacy risks sidelining Palestinian self-determination.
• Fragmentation of Palestinian Leadership: Excluding Hamas while empowering the Palestinian Authority could deepen internal divisions.
• Security-First Approach: Prioritizing Israeli security over Palestinian sovereignty may entrench occupation rather than end it.
• Lack of Final Status Negotiations: The plan avoids core issues like borders, refugees, and Jerusalem, which are central to a viable two-state solution.

Way Forward

After the rejection of Donald Trump’s Gaza peace plan by key stakeholders—including Hamas, several Arab states, and hardline Israeli factions—the path forward remains complex and fraught with geopolitical tension. Experts and policymakers are actively considering the most likely next steps and strategic options moving forward.

1. Revival of the Arab League’s Cairo Plan

• Egypt and other Arab nations had proposed a 100-page reconstruction and governance framework for Gaza, which emphasized:
  • No forced displacement of Palestinians
  • A technocratic government excluding Hamas
  • International oversight and funding for rebuilding
• With the U.S. and Israel rejecting this plan, Arab states may now seek support from the European Union and other global powers to revive it.

2. Increased Diplomatic Pressure

• Arab countries could escalate diplomatic efforts by:
  • Lobbying the United Nations for resolutions condemning unilateral actions
  • Engaging with BRICS nations and the Global South to counterbalance U.S. influence
  • Leveraging energy and trade ties to pressure Western allies

3. EU Involvement as a Mediator

• The European Union, which has expressed concern over Israeli policies in Gaza, may emerge as a neutral broker.
• EU Council President António Costa has signaled readiness to work on post-war Gaza reconstruction.

4. Reimagining Palestinian Leadership

• Leaders continue to propose the Gaza International Transitional Authority (GITA), but they face growing doubts about its legitimacy due to the exclusion of Hamas and the lack of full Palestinian support.
• A new leadership model may involve:
  • Elections supervised by international observers
  • Inclusion of diaspora voices
  • Reform of the Palestinian Authority to gain broader support

5. Humanitarian Focus and Ceasefire Advocacy

• With over 66,000 deaths reported since October 2023, humanitarian organizations and civil society groups are pushing for:
  • Immediate ceasefire agreements
  • Unconditional aid access
  • Protection of civilians under international law

6. Grassroots Mobilization and Civil Diplomacy

• Palestinian and global activists may intensify campaigns for:
  • Boycotts, divestment, and sanctions (BDS) against Israeli institutions
  • Legal action in international courts
  • Cultural diplomacy to reshape global narratives

The rejection of Trump’s Gaza peace plan has opened a diplomatic vacuum. In response, Arab states—led by Egypt—are actively recalibrating their strategies and building broader international coalitions to address the crisis. At the same time, the European Union is positioning itself as a potential stabilizing force, aiming to influence the post-war governance of Gaza. Yet, without unified Palestinian support and firm guarantees of sovereignty, any externally imposed solution risks deepening instability.

Trump’s peace initiative marked a bold attempt to end one of the most devastating conflicts in recent history. Although the plan outlined commendable humanitarian objectives, its political framework triggered widespread controversy and skepticism. Muslim nations and Palestinian factions reacted with mixed responses, underscoring the immense complexity of forging lasting peace. Whether the plan revives or undermines the two-state solution remains uncertain—but it has unquestionably reshaped the region’s diplomatic landscape.