Trump, Netanyahu Agree to Plan to End Gaza War, Await Hamas Response/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ morning Edition/ President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Monday they had agreed to a U.S.-backed plan to end the Gaza war. The 20-point proposal includes a ceasefire, hostage exchanges, and transitional governance but now hinges on whether Hamas will accept the terms.
Trump-Netanyahu Gaza Peace Plan Quick Looks
- Trump and Netanyahu present 20-point plan to end war
- U.S. promises Israel “full backing” if Hamas refuses deal
- Hostages to be released within 72 hours of acceptance
- Netanyahu apologizes to Qatar for Doha strike that killed officer
- White House describes apology call as “heart-to-heart”
- Trump proposal: ceasefire, hostage swaps, prisoner releases, withdrawal
- International security force to oversee postwar Gaza stability
- Technocratic Palestinian committee to govern under Board of Peace
- Hamas yet to respond to the U.S.-brokered proposal
- International community presses for immediate ceasefire and aid flow
Trump and Netanyahu Agree on Gaza Plan Awaiting Hamas
Deep Look
President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stood side by side at the White House Monday, declaring they had reached an agreement on a comprehensive plan to end the Gaza war. Now, they said, the decision rests with Hamas.
The announcement followed weeks of speculation about Trump’s evolving peace framework, and the 20-point plan he outlined aims to bring the nearly two-year war to a halt, secure the release of hostages, and establish a transitional government in Gaza.
A Deal on the Table
Trump said the deal could end the conflict “immediately” if Hamas agrees. Israel, he pledged, has the “full backing of the United States” should Hamas reject the proposal.
“I think we are beyond very close,” Trump told reporters. “We’re not quite finished. We have to get Hamas.”
Netanyahu, striking a harder tone, echoed the ultimatum. “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 the hard way — but it will be done.”
The 20-Point Framework
According to U.S. officials and Arab mediators, Trump’s plan includes:
- Immediate ceasefire upon acceptance
- Release of all hostages within 72 hours
- Gradual Israeli withdrawal from Gaza, tied to demilitarization benchmarks
- Release of hundreds of Palestinian prisoners, including women and children
- Formation of an international stabilization force to secure Gaza
- A Palestinian technocratic committee to oversee daily governance
- Oversight by a new international body, the “Board of Peace,” chaired by Trump, with global leaders such as former U.K. Prime Minister Tony Blair
The plan stops short of requiring Palestinians to leave Gaza, a measure Trump had previously floated, and instead frames the proposal as a pathway toward eventual Palestinian statehood if conditions stabilize.
The Qatar Factor
The announcement came as Netanyahu offered a formal apology to Qatar, whose capital Doha was struck by Israeli missiles earlier this month in an attempt to target Hamas leaders. The attack killed a Qatari security officer and infuriated Arab states, with Qatar temporarily suspending its role as mediator.
According to the White House, Netanyahu’s call to Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani included “deep regret” for the civilian death and an assurance that Israel would not repeat such an action. Trump described it as a “heart-to-heart” conversation.
Qatar, which has long hosted Hamas leaders and facilitated indirect negotiations, welcomed the assurances but stopped short of resuming mediation immediately.
White House Pressure
Trump’s administration has grown increasingly impatient with the war, especially as global criticism of Israel’s campaign mounts. At the press briefing Monday.
White House spokesperson Karoline Leavitt urged both sides to finalize a ceasefire and hostage deal. “Ultimately, a good deal leaves both sides a little unhappy. But we need this conflict to end.”
Palestinian ambassador to the U.N. Riyad Mansour said Palestinian officials were ready to work with Trump and regional partners to implement peace. “Let us not delay a single minute more,” he told the Security Council.
Israel’s Political Tensions
Even as Netanyahu sought to reassure Qatar and align closely with Trump, divisions persisted within his own government. Itamar Ben-Gvir, Israel’s far-right national security minister, publicly defended the Doha strike as “an important, just and ethical attack.”
These fractures underscore Netanyahu’s challenge: balancing Trump’s pressure and international outrage with the demands of hard-line coalition partners who insist the war must continue until Hamas is destroyed.
What Hamas Will Do
Hamas has not formally responded to the proposal. The group is believed to be holding 48 hostages, including 20 thought to be alive. Its leaders have consistently demanded Israel’s full withdrawal from Gaza and the recognition of a Palestinian state.
For now, Hamas has been briefed by Egyptian and Qatari mediators but has not received a direct U.S. offer. The group has repeatedly rejected disarmament conditions, tying its weapons to the pursuit of sovereignty.
A Fragile Path Forward
Trump’s deal represents one of the most detailed frameworks yet for ending the war. It includes provisions for humanitarian aid, infrastructure rebuilding, and even an interfaith dialogue program aimed at promoting long-term coexistence.
But whether it succeeds will depend on Hamas’ willingness to compromise and Netanyahu’s ability to withstand domestic political backlash.
For Trump, the stakes are personal and political. Chairing the proposed “Board of Peace” would place him at the center of Gaza’s postwar governance, giving him an unprecedented role in shaping the region’s future.
As Trump concluded Monday’s announcement, he appealed directly to Palestinians: “Take responsibility for your destiny. This is your chance for peace.”
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