Image posted by the official Donald J. Trump account on Truth Social on October 5th, 2025
Background
Almost two years after the attack on Israeli citizens that catalyzed the current Gaza war, a peace plan brokered by the U.S. looks to finally achieve a resolution to the conflict. Over the past year, Israel has placed increasing pressure on Hamas to release hostages, end offenses against Israel, and give up control of the Gaza strip by ramping up military offensives on the strip and blocking the vast majority of aid. As of April 2025, the U.N. estimates that 92% of all residential buildings in the Gaza strip have been either damaged or destroyed, and since the October 7th attack by Hamas, over 60,000 Palestinians have been killed.
Israeli Prime Minister and face of the State of Israel Benjamin Netanhayu has stated that Israel’s “goal is not to occupy Gaza, our goal is to free Gaza”. Israel’s methods and goals have been largely condemned on the international stage, mainly over key details such as the mass blockage of aid to the refugee population and the sporadic killing of civilians at the existing aid sites by Israel Defense Forces (IDF). Israel has defended their actions as necessary in rooting out Hamas from the Gaza strip, as Hamas is not just a militant group, but also an economic, political, and governing body that is deeply embedded in Palestinian society. However, on September 16th, a U.N. commission found that Israel’s campaign against Gaza amounted to genocide, committing four out of the five commonly recognized, being “killing, causing serious bodily or mental harm, deliberately inflicting conditions of life calculated to bring about the destruction of the Palestinians in whole or in part, and imposing measures intended to prevent births.”
Despite the international blowback that has led to many western democracies, such as Canada and France, to take primarily symbolic action against Israel by recognizing a Palestinian state, the United States has remained a firm ally of Israel and supports their goals, despite several instances where Israeli leaders have neglected to consult with U.S. President Donald Trump on military issues. These include the dropping of bombs on Doha, the capital of Qatar, to strike Hamas leadership, and more recently the continued bombing of humanitarian zones in the strip despite Mr. Trump’s call for its stoppage. The United States has continued to stand by Israel, and now seeks resolution.
Peace Plan
The twenty-point peace plan calls for a two-state solution supported by the international community. The plan, headed by President Trump and supported by various countries around the world, including China, France, and Egypt, calls for an immediate end to the war as soon as both sides agree to the proposal, triggering the release of all hostages from both sides within 72 hours of the agreement and the immediate but gradual withdrawal of all Israeli forces behind a predetermined border. Underpinning the proposal is the deradicalization of groups within the Gaza Strip, namely Hamas, and the destruction and demilitarization of hostile infrastructure. Hamas and other factions must agree to have no role in the governance of the Gaza Strip, which will eventually be transferred to the Palestinian Authority, which currently administers to the West Bank. Hamas members that agree to peaceful coexistence will be granted full amnesty.
In the days following an acceptance of the proposal, Gaza will be governed by a newly formed “Board of Peace”, chaired by President Trump, with the primary day to day governance of the territory being run by an apolitical Palestinian committee. Neighboring countries such as Jordan and Egypt will provide continual support to Gaza, with other countries agreeing to economic policies friendly to Gaza’s rehabilitation.
Response by Hamas and Implications
The peace plan would fundamentally alter the role and power of Hamas. Hamas was originally an affiliate of the Muslim Brotherhood, and has controlled the Gaza Strip since 2007. It fulfilled all the common functions of government, including administering utilities, hospitals, and military defense. While not directly mentioning Mr. Trump’s peace plan, Hamas stated that it is willing to exchange all hostages and hostage remains, and wishes to transfer power to an independent technocratic authority of Palestinians. This statement has been recognized as an acceptance of the peace plan, though they have also stated that they want further negotiation on several points relating to Palestinian rights.
Response by Israel and Implications
In a press conference on October 4th, PM Benjamin Netanyahu stated that he hoped for the return of all hostages “in the coming days”. Israel has still not formally accepted the proposal, meaning that although Hamas has indicated it’s willing to have a complete ceasefire, Israel is still able to bomb targets in Gaza. The withdrawal line that the plan calls for is the same as the Israeli occupation line before the beginning of a major offensive in Gaza last month. This line gives Israel control of Eastern Gaza and major cities such as Rafah.
The peace plan calls for the elimination of any interference by Israel in Gaza. A longstanding issue has been the illegal encroachment of Israeli settlers on Palestinian land, movements that have been supported by the Israeli state. Additionally, the war in Gaza has undone much of the efforts to normalize relations in the Middle East. Because Hamas is one of Iran’s proxy organizations used to exert control over the region, tensions have flared again between the two nations. While Israel’s conflict was meant to address the immediate threat of Hamas, it has done so at the cost of further alienating its primarily Muslim neighbors such as Egypt and Jordan.
Interpretation and Implications for the U.S.A.
Under President Trump’s second term, there has been a marked shift away from the traditional “global enforcer” role that the United States has played and towards a more American-focused, isolated role. The conflict in Gaza has also been a sign of the break between western countries and NGOs and the United States, as the U.S. found itself as the lone supporter of Israel on the global stage. Despite the changing tides however, the ability to broker large peace deals remains almost entirely unique to the United States.
The peace-plan is also a large shift in policy for Mr. Trump. In February, he made many statements in favor of relocating the entire 2 million strong population of Palestinians, but the current plan he has pushed for seeks a two-state solution. America’s staunch support of Israeli actions in conflicts even when not briefed prior draws the U.S. into delicate issues that threaten its relationships with allies. Over the last several months, the public discourse between PM Netanyahu and President Trump has shown cracks in their relationship, with President Trump expressing frustration with his counterpart and his lack of communication.
Summary
After several years of conflict, both parties in the conflict are readying to end it as negotiations begin to proceed in Cairo, Egypt, to settle the finer points of the plan and discuss any disagreements. Though prior ceasefires and negotiations have failed, this peace plan headed by the U.S. promises to redraw the dynamic between the Gaza Strip and Israel.