Donald Trump and Benjamin Netanyahu shook hands after unveiling the U.S. plan for ending the war in Gaza. Key points include the release of Hamas hostages and the future governance of the Palestinian enclave. Trump presented the plan on Monday (September 29, 2025), with initial reactions mostly positive. Netanyahu welcomed it, as did several Arab and Muslim countries. The crucial question remains whether Hamas will accept it.
At a joint press conference at the White House, President Trump emphasized that if Hamas rejects the proposal, the U.S. will stand fully behind Israel. “We will succeed; the war will finally end. This can happen the easy way or the hard way, but it will happen. We didn’t make such sacrifices for Hamas to remain in Gaza and commit horrific massacres,” said the Israeli Prime Minister.
Palestinians, however, reacted sharply after the plan’s release, accusing Israeli and U.S. leaders of “counting without the host.” They dismissed the proposal as unsustainable and labeled it a farce.
The full 20-point Trump plan includes:
1. Gaza will become a demilitarized zone, free from terrorism, posing no threat to its neighbors.
2. Reconstruction will benefit Gaza’s residents, who have suffered immensely.
3. If both sides agree, fighting stops immediately. Israeli forces withdraw to a designated line to prepare for hostage release, with all military operations suspended.
4. Within 72 hours of public agreement, all hostages—living and deceased—are returned.
5. Upon hostage release, Israel frees 250 life-sentenced prisoners and 1,700 Gazans detained since October 7, 2023, including all women and children. For each Israeli body returned, Israel returns 15 Palestinian bodies.
6. Hamas members committing to peaceful coexistence and disarmament receive amnesty. Those wishing to leave Gaza are offered safe passage to host countries.
7. Full humanitarian aid is immediately delivered, restoring infrastructure, hospitals, bakeries, and clearing rubble.
8. Aid delivery is managed by the UN, Red Crescent, and neutral international organizations, without interference.
9. Gaza is temporarily governed by a non-political, technocratic Palestinian committee supervised by an international body, the “Peace Council,” led by President Trump and including figures like former UK PM Tony Blair.
10. A Trump-led economic development plan will rebuild Gaza, drawing expertise from successful Middle East urban projects.
11. A special economic zone with preferential tariffs will be negotiated.
12. No one will be forced to leave Gaza; those who wish may return.
13. Hamas is excluded from governance. All military and terrorist infrastructure, including tunnels and weapons facilities, will be destroyed under international supervision.
14. Regional partners provide security guarantees to ensure compliance.
15. A temporary International Stabilization Force (ISF), backed by Arab and international allies, will train Palestinian police and secure borders.
16. Israel will not occupy or annex Gaza. IDF forces will gradually hand over control to ISF, withdrawing completely except for a limited security perimeter.
17. If Hamas delays or rejects the deal, reconstruction proceeds in areas cleared by IDF and handed to ISF.
18. An interfaith dialogue will promote tolerance and shift narratives toward peace.
19. As reforms progress, conditions may emerge for credible Palestinian self-determination and statehood.
20. The U.S. will facilitate dialogue between Israel and Palestinians for a shared political horizon.
On the ground, many in Gaza express skepticism. “This plan is clearly unrealistic,” says Ibrahim Joudeh, 39, from a shelter in southern Gaza. “It’s designed so Hamas will reject it—meaning the war and suffering continue.”
Abu Mazen Nasar, 52, fears manipulation: “It’s all deception. Why would we release prisoners without firm war-ending guarantees? This is a farce we won’t accept.”
Yet some still hope. “No war lasts forever,” says a 31-year-old resident. “I’m optimistic. God willing, joy will replace our pain.”
Others, like 29-year-old Najwa Musliem, have lost faith entirely. “I’ve lost belief in life itself. If they truly wanted peace, they wouldn’t have waited so long. It’s always the same game—and we’re the ones paying the price.”
As regional actors weigh in and Hamas deliberates, the fate of Gaza hangs in the balance—between hope, skepticism, and the grim reality of prolonged conflict.