U.S. President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced Monday that Israel has agreed to a U.S.-sponsored 20-point Gaza peace proposal, a plan the White House says could bring an end to nearly two years of war in the Palestinian enclave.
The deal—unveiled at a joint news conference in Washington—calls for an immediate ceasefire, the release of hostages held by Hamas in exchange for Palestinian prisoners, a phased Israeli withdrawal, the disarmament of Hamas, and the installation of a transitional government under international supervision.
Trump, standing alongside Netanyahu, declared the two leaders were “beyond very close” to achieving what has long eluded American presidents: a breakthrough in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. “If we work together, we can bring an end to the death and destruction we’ve seen for so many years,” Trump said, thanking Netanyahu for backing the plan.
Netanyahu’s stark warning
While pledging his government’s agreement, Netanyahu warned Hamas in sharp terms. “This can be done the easy way, or it can be done the hard way, but it will be done,” he said.
The Israeli leader’s remarks underscored the fragile circumstances of the initiative. The talks come as Israeli forces push deeper into Gaza City, staging one of their heaviest assaults since the war began. Netanyahu has repeatedly vowed to eradicate Hamas militarily, even as families of hostages and an increasingly war-weary Israeli public press him to find a negotiated resolution.
Hamas outside the talks
A conspicuous absence in Washington was Hamas. The militant group was not party to the White House discussions, though Qatari and Egyptian intermediaries conveyed the details. According to an official briefed on the talks, Hamas negotiators said they would study the plan “in good faith” and deliver a response.
That absence raises questions about the proposal’s viability. Previous U.S.-backed ceasefire attempts collapsed over gaps between Israel’s insistence on Hamas’s dismantlement and Hamas’s demands for guarantees of Palestinian sovereignty.
Global backdrop and UN tensions
The push for peace comes at a fraught diplomatic moment. Last week, several Western nations recognized Palestinian statehood, a move Netanyahu denounced as “disgraceful” during his UN General Assembly address. His speech was met with a dramatic walkout by dozens of delegations.
The contrast in Washington was striking. Arriving by limousine at the White House, Netanyahu was greeted by Trump with a handshake and warm words—an image aimed at reinforcing Israel’s most vital alliance after weeks of international isolation.
Trump’s domestic and diplomatic stakes
Trump, who campaigned in 2024 on a pledge to resolve the Gaza war “quickly,” has repeatedly suggested a peace deal was imminent. Until now, none have materialized. The new plan was crafted by Trump’s special envoy, Steve Witkoff, in consultation with Jared Kushner, his son-in-law and Middle East adviser during his first term.
The framework envisions the release of hostages within 48 hours of the ceasefire’s signing, followed by a phased Israeli pullout from Gaza. But Trump’s optimism—“I’m very confident,” he told reporters—sits against a history of failed U.S. mediation efforts.
Regional concerns
Egypt, which has mediated previous truces, has voiced concerns that the internationally recognized Palestinian Authority must not be sidelined in administering Gaza. Cairo also wants binding guarantees that Israel would abide by the agreement’s terms once hostages are freed.
For Netanyahu, the stakes are high at home. He faces competing pressures: hostages’ families demanding action, public exhaustion with the war, and far-right coalition partners threatening to abandon his government if they perceive concessions.
The coming days will test whether Hamas offers more than a symbolic review of the plan, and whether U.S. leverage with Israel can overcome entrenched mistrust. For now, the prospect of peace rests on a plan agreed in Washington but not yet embraced in Gaza—a reminder that the “easy way” Netanyahu invoked remains elusive.
