TRUMP’S 20-POINT GAZA PLAN: A QUEST FOR PEACE OR A POLITICAL MOVE?

On 29 September 2025, U.S. President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced a 20-point peace framework at the White House aimed at ending the war in Gaza. Trump described it as “one of the greatest days in the history of civilization” and claimed it would bring “eternal peace to the Middle East”. According to The Guardian and BBC, this initiative was seen as both an attempt to restore Washington’s diplomatic influence in the region and a strategic move by Trump to strengthen his image as a “peace-making leader” ahead of the upcoming U.S. elections.

Trump’s 20-point Gaza plan includes provisions for an immediate ceasefire, the release of hostages within 72 hours, the phased withdrawal of Israeli forces, and the disarmament of Hamas. It also proposes a temporary technocratic administration in Gaza, supervised by an international “Board of Peace”. Former U.K. Prime Minister Tony Blair was announced as the board’s first member. According to BBC News, the plan also grants amnesty to Hamas members who agree to renounce violence, while those who refuse disarmament would face exile.

However, both outlets emphasized that the plan fails to provide a clear vision for a Palestinian state. As The Guardian reported, the text mentions the possibility of “conditions that may allow Palestinians to determine their future,” but it offers no guarantee regarding the status of the West Bank. Reactions to the plan were divided. Netanyahu endorsed it in principle, but his far-right coalition partners strongly opposed any reference to a future Palestinian state. Hamas stated that it was “open to reviewing” the plan but would reject any proposal that did not ensure Israel’s full withdrawal from Gaza.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan praised Trump’s “leadership to stop the bloodshed in Gaza”, while French President Emmanuel Macron said the plan could “create an opportunity for lasting peace based on a two-state solution”. Still, many observers argued that the proposal resembled a diplomatic showcase rather than a genuine peace process, and editorials in The Guardian suggested the plan reinforced Israel’s security priorities rather than protecting Palestinian rights.

Trump’s plan briefly revived diplomatic optimism about ending the conflict, but contradictions within the document quickly raised doubts. While it promised that “Israel will not occupy Gaza,” another clause stated that Israel would “maintain its security perimeter,” creating distrust among Arab countries. This contradiction made the plan fragile from the start.

BBC and The Guardian analyses concluded that Trump’s motives were twofold: to reassert U.S. influence in the Middle East and to boost his personal image on the global stage. However, the plan failed to secure meaningful progress for Palestinians or to establish mutual trust between the parties. Ultimately, Trump’s 20-point Gaza plan gained massive international attention but delivered little tangible outcome, a symbolic effort that opened yet another chapter of uncertainty in the region’s long search for peace.

References:

The Guardian. (2025, 29 September). What’s in Trump’s 20-point peace plan for Gaza? https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/sep/29/trump-peace-plan-gaza-israel-hamas

The Guardian. (2025, 5 October). How likely is it that Trump’s Gaza plan will work? https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/oct/05/how-likely-trump-gaza-plan-work

The Guardian. (2025, 6 October). The Guardian view on Trump’s Gaza plan: the bloodshed must end, but this proposal betrays Palestinians. https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2025/oct/06/the-guardian-view-on-trumps-gaza-plan-the-bloodshed-must-end-but-this-proposal-betrays-palestinians