US President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu have jointly announced a new peace proposal for Gaza, urging Hamas to accept the plan or face intensified Israeli military action.
The proposal calls for an immediate halt to military operations, with Hamas expected to release 20 living Israeli hostages and the remains of more than two dozen others believed to be dead within 72 hours. In return, Israel would free hundreds of detained Gazans.
The document states that Hamas will have no role in governing Gaza and leaves room for the eventual creation of a Palestinian state.
Speaking at the White House after talks with Netanyahu, Trump described the plan as “a historic day for peace”.
He warned that if Hamas rejects the proposal, Netanyahu will have US backing to “finish the job of destroying the threat of Hamas”. Netanyahu added that Israel “will finish the job” if the group refuses to comply.
The Palestinian Authority welcomed the move, calling the US president’s efforts “sincere and determined”. Through its WAFA news agency, it said it “renews its joint commitment to work with the United States, regional states, and partners” to end the war, allow humanitarian aid into Gaza, and secure the release of hostages and prisoners.
According to Gaza’s Hamas-run health ministry, at least 66,055 people have been killed in Israeli strikes since October 2023.
The proposal would begin with a ceasefire, freezing existing battle lines while conditions are met for a phased withdrawal. Hamas would be required to surrender its weapons, and its tunnel and weapon production infrastructure would be dismantled.
For every Israeli hostage’s remains returned, Israel would release the remains of 15 dead Gazans. The plan also states that once both sides agree, full humanitarian aid will be allowed into Gaza immediately.
The US has outlined a governance structure that would see Gaza temporarily run by a “technocratic, apolitical Palestinian committee” under the oversight of an international transitional body called the Board of Peace, headed by Trump.
Former UK Prime Minister Sir Tony Blair will join the board, describing the plan as “bold and intelligent”.
British Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer urged all sides to back the proposal, saying, “We call on all sides to come together and to work with the US Administration to finalise this agreement and bring it into reality. Hamas should now agree to the plan and end the misery, by laying down their arms and releasing all remaining hostages.”
European Council President Antonio Costa said he was “encouraged by Prime Minister Netanyahu's positive response”, urging all parties to “seize this moment to give peace a genuine chance”.
French President Emmanuel Macron welcomed the proposal, stating, “France stands ready to contribute” to efforts to end the war and release hostages.
He added that the plan should open the door to “in-depth discussions with all relevant partners to build a lasting peace in the region, based on the two-state solution”.
The document emphasises that Hamas must have no role in governance “directly, indirectly, or in any form”. It focuses heavily on what the US calls an “economic development plan” to rebuild Gaza. It specifies that Israel will not occupy or annex the territory and will withdraw in stages over time.
In a shift from Trump’s earlier position, Palestinians will not be forced to leave Gaza. “We will encourage people to stay and offer them the opportunity to build a better Gaza,” the plan states.
Hamas has indicated openness to studying any proposal that could end the war, but insists that any agreement must ensure full Israeli withdrawal and protect Palestinian interests.
The plan’s announcement came days after Netanyahu criticised several Western countries for recognising a Palestinian state during his speech at the UN General Assembly.
He called those recognitions a “mark of shame” and said they sent the message that “murdering Jews pays off”, prompting dozens of diplomats to walk out.
Although Trump has strongly backed Netanyahu since returning to office, he has grown increasingly frustrated with some of Israel’s actions
. He recently expressed annoyance over an Israeli strike on Hamas members in Qatar that accidentally killed a Qatari serviceman. Netanyahu personally called Qatar’s Prime Minister from the White House to express regret.
Israel’s military campaign began after Hamas-led attacks on southern Israel on 7 October 2023 that killed about 1,200 people and led to 251 hostages being taken.
A UN-backed body has confirmed famine in Gaza City, and earlier this month a UN commission of inquiry found that Israel had committed genocide in Gaza — an accusation Israel rejects.