President Donald Trump on Monday officially unveiled his plan to end the war in Gaza — one that Israel has endorsed and would put Trump in charge of a board to transition the government in Gaza, but needs to be agreed upon by Hamas.
At a press conference with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Trump announced a 20-point proposal that aims to end the nearly two-year-long conflict. The plan calls for an immediate ceasefire, the return of all Israeli hostages (both living and deceased) within 72 hours, the release of thousands of Palestinian prisoners, the free flow of humanitarian aid into the enclave, and a staggered withdrawal by the Israel Defense Forces (IDF).
Per the White House, Gaza would be temporarily governed by a “technocratic, apolitical” committee under the oversight of a “Board of Peace” chaired by Trump, with the goal of rebuilding infrastructure, creating economic opportunities, and eventually transitioning governance back to a reformed Palestinian Authority.
“My plan calls for the creation of a new international oversight body, the Board of Peace,” Trump said at his joint announcement with Netanyahu. “[It] will be headed — not at my request. Believe me, I’m very busy, but we have to make sure this works. The leaders of the Arab world, and Israel, and everybody involved asked me to do this. So, it would be headed by a gentleman known as President Donald J. Trump of the United States.”
Trump’s plan also stipulates that Israel will not “occupy or annex” Gaza in any way. The plan does not mention the West Bank, which the United Nations and many countries say is being illegally occupied by Israel. The Trump administration earlier this year reportedly laid out plans for the U.S. to take over Gaza, build a “Riviera of the Middle East,” and pay Palestinians to leave the enclave.
