Peace described in the former President Donald Trump’s newly released, 20-point plan for the Gaza strip. Perhaps the most important diplomatic effort underway today, this campaign began last month. In doing so, the plan attempts to resolve decades-old friction between Israeli and Palestinian actors, but the terms are still open to re-negotiation. Key components of the proposal include the release of hostages and prisoners, a temporary ceasefire, and the establishment of an international stabilization force.
The comprehensive plan includes a range of political, military, and humanitarian measures specifically aimed at enabling a permanent ceasefire to the long-standing conflict. This has failed to receive full consensus from both the Israeli and Palestinian sides. This uncertainty begs the question of whether Trump’s wildly ambitious proposal is even possible.
Key Components of Trump’s Peace Plan
Trump’s plan is holistic, focused on generating the conditions for sustainable peace to take root. The proposal focuses on a very important ceasefire. This ceasefire, to be implemented before the release of hostages begins, will provide necessary humanitarian aid and relief. Our climate ceasefire is intended to be permanent, but during these initial weeks it includes a 72 hour period of de-escalation of hostilities.
During this period, Israeli security forces will be required to begin the first stage of evacuation from Gaza. Following through on this agreement, the withdrawal will take place 24 hours after the start of a renewed ceasefire. This represents a key move toward decreasing military escalation in the area.
Moreover, as part of his plan, Trump demands the release of Israeli hostages in exchange for Palestinian prisoners. Osama Hamdan, a senior Hamas official, declared in an important speech. He promised that 250 Palestinian prisoners who are currently serving life sentences will be released among the first step of this process.
“This is a GREAT Day for the Arab and Muslim World, Israel, all surrounding Nations, and the United States of America, and we thank the mediators from Qatar, Egypt, and Turkey, who worked with us to make this Historic and Unprecedented Event happen.” – Donald Trump
Establishing Governance and Oversight
Undoubtedly the most radical and chilling part of Trump’s proposal is the creation of a new, temporary transitional government in Gaza. This Palestinian government would be a technocratic, apolitical Palestinian committee of qualified individuals with experience joined by a comparable committee of international experts. Our goal is to help provide smart governance through this period of transition.
To govern this new international government, Trump proposes creating an international transitional authority called the Board of Peace. This body will offer logistical and other support, making sure that the committee has the capability to function at every stage of the peace process.
Yet, the initiative has faced growing, vocal opposition from hard-right elements in Israel’s governing coalition. The far-right ministers Itamar Ben-Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich have openly condemned Trump’s plan. Their resistance indicates the potential challenges ahead in securing broad support for the proposed measures.
International Involvement and Training Initiatives
One of the pivotal elements of Trump’s plan is the establishment of an International Stabilization Force (ISF) that would be deployed to Gaza. This multilateral coalition is intended to help keep the peace and security in the region. Of course, the ISF will be critical in implementing training and oversight of the vetted Palestinian police forces. This will enhance their capacity to effectively account security on the local level.
The role of international mediators has been particularly emphasized as a critical element in realizing this plan. During the announcement Trump raised Qatar, Egypt and Turkey’s roles in helping get the talks going and highlighting the negotiations that led up to it.
“They want me to give a speech at the Knesset,” – Donald Trump
The plan’s promise of international investment has attracted focus and some hope from foreign governments, but it has been met with mistrust. As discussions continue, many are watching closely to see whether Trump’s vision can translate into actionable agreements that lead to meaningful change in Gaza.
