The Trump administration has proposed a 21-point peace plan for Gaza, which calls for the release of all hostages held by Hamas within 48 hours of reaching an agreement and outlines a roadmap for Gaza once the war ends, according to a source familiar with the proposal.
Meanwhile, Israel’s assault on the enclave continues, with the military escalating its offensive in recent days and forcing many people to flee Gaza City as the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) push deeper into urban areas.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, however, vowed on Friday to continue the war until Hamas is destroyed, CNN reported. The plan may prove problematic for Netanyahu, as it recognizes aspirations for a Palestinian state — something strongly opposed by key members of his government.
The release of the hostages, around 20 of whom are believed to still be alive, would be carried out in exchange for a gradual withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza, the source said.
The plan would exclude Hamas from any future role in governing Gaza. Instead, it envisions two layers of temporary governance in the territory: a comprehensive international body and a Palestinian committee.
There is no set timeline in the proposal for the international body to transfer Gaza’s leadership to the Palestinian Authority (PA), which exercises nominal self-rule in parts of the Israeli-occupied West Bank but faces heavy restrictions from Israel.
The plan does not explicitly state that the U.S. would support the creation of a Palestinian state, but it does recognize it as a legitimate aspiration of the Palestinian people.
