white-house-releases-gaza-peace-plan

The White House released on Monday a peace place for Gaza that proposes to end the conflict between Israel and Hamas militants and the return of all hostages, living and dead, within 72 hours of Israel accepting the agreement.

US President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said they’ve agreed on the plan, and a leading news agency has also reported that the Palestinian government welcomes the plan to end the war and vows to make reforms that have been demanded by the US.

The 20-point plan for ending the Israel-Hamas war includes establishing a temporary governing board in the war-battered Palestinian territory that would be headed by Trump and include former British Prime Minister, Tony Blair.

As per the plan, the Gaza residents would be “encouraged to stay”, said White House. However, Trump vouched to “fully back” Israel to take steps to defeat Hamas if it doesn’t accept the plan. But, if both sides agree to the proposal, “the war will immediately end”, according to the plan. It also calls for an end to the Hamas rule in Gaza, and its disarmament. 

“I think we are beyond very close,” Trump said at the start of a news conference with Netanyahu where he detailed the plan. “We’re not quite finished. We have to get Hamas.” 

Netanyahu interjected with the threat that “If Hamas rejects your plan, Mr. President, or if they supposedly accept it and then do everything to counter it, then Israel will finish the job by itself”. 

“This can be done the easy way or it can be done the hard way, but it will be done,” he said. 

Trump then went on to urge Palestinian people to take responsibility “for their destiny” and embrace his peace proposal.
“A Trump economic development plan to rebuild Gaza will be created by convening a panel of experts who have helped birth some of the thriving miracle cities in the Middle East,” the plan stated. 

It further mentions “many thoughtful investment proposals and exciting development ideas” that have been crafted by “well-meaning international groups” and will be considered to synthesise the security and governance frameworks to attract and facilitate these investments.

A special economic zone is included in the plan, which will be established with preferred tariff and access rates to be negotiated with participating countries.

 

Also Read: Trump says Gaza war deal, hostage release could be near

It has also been decided in the plan that a Palestinian committee of technocrats would oversee the civilian affairs of the strip, with power handed over later to a reformed Palestinian Authority. It must be noted that Netanyahu has rejected any role for the authority, which is an internationally recognised representative of the Palestinians in post-war Gaza.

According to a person familiar with the matter, Qatar’s prime minister and Egypt’s intelligence chief presented Trump’s proposal to Hamas negotiators, who are now reviewing it in “good faith”.

While Hamas has said in the past that it would agree to step back from governing Gaza, the militant group has refused to disarm, something Netanyahu has long demanded as part of any long-term truce to end the war.

“We have affirmed our desire for a modern, democratic, and non-militarized Palestinian state, committed to pluralism and the peaceful transfer of power,” the Palestinian government said in a statement, also promising a series of reforms, including new elections, changes to its schoolbooks, and ending a system that pays the families of militants involved in attacks on Israelis.

The White House also added that once all hostages are returned, Hamas members who commit to peaceful co-existence and to decommission their weapons will be given amnesty. Members who wish to leave Gaza will be provided safe passage to receiving countries.

The White House also said that entry of distribution and aid in the Gaza Strip will proceed without interference from the two parties through the United Nations and its agencies, as well as the Red Crescent. The Rafah crossing will also be opened in both directions and will be subjected to the same mechanism implemented under the January 19, 2025 agreement. 

The plan also addresses Palestinian self-determination and statehood, saying that when the Palestinian Authority is reformed, “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”.

Meanwhile, world leaders have welcomed Trump’s Gaza peace plan, with the foreign ministers of Saudi Arabia, Jordon, United Arab Emirates, Qatar and Egypt expressing their support to it on Monday. 

The ministers, along with other Arab and Islamic Foreign Ministers, said they were ready to cooperate positively with the US and the relevant parties to finalise the agreement and ensure its implementation. 

 

France’s President, Emmanuel Macron, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, and Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney have also welcomed the efforts to end the war in Gaza.

 

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday welcomed US President Donald Trump's plan to end the Gaza conflict, saying that it provides a viable path to long-term peace, security and development for the Palestinian and Israeli people, as well as the larger West Asian region.

 

In an X post after Trump announced the plan in the presence of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, PM Modi expressed hope that "all concerned will come together behind President Trump's initiative and support this effort to end conflict and secure peace." 

 

 

https://twitter.com/narendramodi/status/1972862306993242208?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Etweet

 

"We welcome President Donald J Trump's announcement of a comprehensive plan to end the Gaza conflict. It provides a viable pathway to long-term and sustainable peace, security and development for the Palestinian and Israeli people, as also for the larger West Asian region," the PM's post read.