With Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu standing beside him, US President Donald Trump unveiled his 20-point peace plan for the Gaza Strip at a joint White House press conference on Monday.
“Today is an important day for peace,” Trump said. He also thanked Netanyahu “for agreeing to the plan and for trusting that if we work together, we can bring an end to the death and destruction that we’ve seen for so many years, decades, even centuries.”
The White House released a 20-point document unveiling the plan, the details of which emerged over the weekend ahead of Netanyahu’s visit. But what exactly does the plan entail?
What are the key points of Trump’s 20-point plan?
Crucially, it creates a pathway to a Palestinian state, something consistently and vehemently opposed by Israel, and a future road map for Gaza. The plan demands the release of the 20 living hostages remaining in Gaza and a number of those already deceased, in exchange for the release of hundreds of Palestinians being held in Israel. This should happen within 48 hours of an agreement being struck.
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“Once all the hostages have been released, Israel will release 250 prisoners serving life sentences plus 1,700 Gazans detained after October 7. For every Israeli hostage whose remains are released, Israel will release the remains of 15 deceased Gazans,” the Washington Post reported.
Trump touts Gaza deal as Israel slams Palestinian statehood
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The plan also demands the removal of Hamas, designated as a terrorist organization by the German government, the EU, the US and some Arab states, from power and a commitment from it to disarm. It also calls for a reform of the Palestinian Authority, which runs the occupied West Bank and a promise from Israel not to launch further attacks on Qatar, which has attempted to act as a mediating force in the conflict.
Other points include: Gaza receiving an economic plan for growth, a security guarantee for Gaza enforced by the US and regional powers, the chance for people who have left the area to return and no one currently in Gaza being forced to leave. Under the plan, Gaza would initially be run by a transitional government with former Hamas members either to stay and commit to the new plan or be allowed safe passage to other, seemingly unnamed, countries.
In addition, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) must halt all operations immediately upon an agreement and hand over any captured territories. Israel must also promise not to occupy or annex Gaza. A Commission of Inquiry under the UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC) found earlier this month that Israel has committed genocide against Palestinians.
There are also planned guarantees about aid from international agencies being able to reach Gaza unimpeded by either side, though there is no mention of the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), which is backed by Israel and the US.
How did the 20-point plan come about?
US envoy Steve Witkoff said on September 23 that Trump had floated the plan in a meeting on that day with leaders from Arab and Muslim countries (Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Indonesia, Turkey, Pakistan, Egypt, the United Arab Emirates and Jordan) at the United Nations. Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas was not allowed to attend the UN General Assembly, where the sideline meeting took place, after the US government denied him a visa.
Those nations involved in the meeting said they “reiterated their commitment to cooperate with President Trump and stressed the importance of his leadership to end the war” in a joint statement.
The president of the Palestinian National Authority, Mahmoud Abbas, was not allowed into the US for the UN General Assembly, so he appeared by video linkImage: Jeenah Moon/REUTERS
The plan was reportedly aided by the Tony Blair Institute for Global Change, run by the former UK prime minister. Some reports suggest that Blair — who is far from universally popular in the Middle East because of his support for the 2003 US invasion of Iraq — will serve as head of the Gaza International Transitional Authority under the plan. GITA could be in control for several years until the Palestinian Authority is evaluated as having met the necessary conditions.
The plan comes in the wake of a growing number of Western nations, such as the United Kingdom, France and Canada, recognizing the Palestinian state. Netanyahu has labeled this a “disgraceful decision.”
What have Israel and Hamas said about the 20-point plan?
In Monday’s joint press conference, Netanyahu said he supported the plan, saying it “achieves our war aims.”
“It will bring back to Israel all our hostages, dismantle Hamas’s military capabilities, end its political rule and ensure that Gaza never again poses a threat to Israel,” the prime minister said.
He also applied pressure on Hamas to accept the deal, saying that “Israel will finish the job by itself” if it didn’t.
Qatar and Egypt, two crucial mediators for negotiations between Israel and Hamas, said they have presented the plan to the militant group. The AP news agency reported that Hamas negotiators are reviewing the plan “in good faith.”
Meanwhile, the Palestinian Authority welcomed Trump’s “sincere and determined efforts,” saying that it has “confidence in his ability to find a path toward peace.”
This article was originally published on September 29, 2025, and updated on September 30, 2025, to include Trump and Netanyahu’s comments from their joint press conference at the White House.
Edited by: C. Mwakideu and M. Gagnon
