President Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu unveiled a peace proposal for Gaza during a press conference at the White House on Monday.
This announcement coincided with the second anniversary of the Hamas-led attack on October 7, 2023, which resulted in the deaths of around 1,200 Israelis, most of whom were civilians.
Since that time, Israeli military actions in Gaza have reportedly claimed over 66,000 lives, with the Gaza Ministry of Health noting that about half of those casualties were women and children.
While Israeli actions sparked global criticism, Netanyahu’s administration has retained the backing of their key ally, the United States.
Here are five main points from the White House event on Monday.
Finally, there is a real plan
Speculation surrounding a White House plan aimed at resolving the Gaza conflict had been prevalent. It was officially released shortly before Trump and Netanyahu began their statements.
If Hamas agrees to the proposal, Israeli forces would make a limited pullback from their current positions and cease additional attacks. In return, Hamas is expected to release all remaining hostages, both living and deceased, within 72 hours. If successful, this could lead to Israel detaining 1,700 Gazans, though the specifics on timing remain unclear.
Aid efforts would address the severe humanitarian crisis, allowing for a significant increase in food and medical assistance to Gaza once the agreement is accepted.
The day-to-day governance of Gaza would transition to a committee referred to by the White House as being comprised of “qualified Palestinians and international experts,” under the direction of a Trump-led “Peace Commission.”
The proposal emphasizes that “no one will be forced to leave Gaza,” stating clearly that “Israel will not occupy or annex Gaza.”
Moreover, Hamas and other factions must agree to relinquish their governance roles and ultimately disarm. An “international stabilization force” would be established to ensure internal security.
Big questions remain
During the press conference, Trump and Netanyahu announced what they termed a peace agreement. However, it’s really just a proposal at this stage.
Reports suggest that Hamas is contemplating the framework, but that doesn’t equate to an actual deal.
There are considerable uncertainties. One is whether Hamas is willing to forgo its control in Gaza while committing to demilitarization, which is seen by many as a significant loss of power.
Another pressing question involves how meaningful self-determination could be achieved for Palestinians if they accept this plan.
Trump and Netanyahu are advocating for substantial reforms within the Palestinian Authority (PA) before it can regain authority from transitional governing bodies. Who, though, will decide if those reforms are adequate?
Palestinians, amidst the ongoing crisis, are understandably hesitant to relinquish control of their governance to leaders like Netanyahu and Trump, who are often regarded with suspicion.
There’s a lack of clarity on whether the Trump administration still supports a two-state solution as a feasible outcome for the prolonged Israel-Palestine conflict.
Such issues were not addressed during the press conference, as both leaders opted not to take questions from the media.
Netanyahu asks to sell the deal to his own side
Many within Netanyahu’s camp harbor doubts about his commitment to peace. Yet, he appears to be trying to market this deal to his supporters.
His coalition seems increasingly influenced by hardline elements, including National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir, who has faced legal consequences for endorsing far-right violence.
During his speech, Netanyahu positioned his backing of the proposal as a strategy to achieve the objectives of their military campaign.
However, for a long time, he’s been rather vague about what those objectives actually are. On Monday, he stated these include bringing hostages home, dismantling Hamas’s military capabilities, consolidating political control, and ensuring Gaza will “not pose a threat to Israel again.”
Trump also provided Netanyahu with assurance, suggesting that if the plan results in peace, it would represent Netanyahu’s “greatest achievement.”
Israel is negotiating from a position to deepen isolation
While Netanyahu seeks to project strength, his military actions have increasingly isolated Israel on the global stage.
Countries like Britain, France, Canada, and Australia have recently recognized Palestinian statehood, following a global trend.
Netanyahu’s recent speech at the United Nations occurred before a sparsely populated room, as delegates departed.
He faces an arrest warrant for war crimes from the International Criminal Court, which certainly casts a shadow over his leadership.
Even within the United States, Israeli activist groups are expressing surprise at shifting perspectives among younger Americans, especially regarding Palestinian issues.
Despite Israel’s military might, even Netanyahu seems to be feeling the weight of international backlash.
Qatar’s apology
A notable development from Monday was a diplomatic overture regarding peace negotiations.
Netanyahu apologized to Qatar’s Prime Minister Mohamed Al Thani for an Israeli airstrike in Qatar’s capital, Doha, which targeted Hamas earlier this month.
This strike angered Qatar, an important ally, leading to tension in relations.
Netanyahu expressed regret in their conversations, as reported by the White House.
