White House unveils 20-point plan to end Israel's war in Gaza, rebuild enclave

The White House released on Monday a comprehensive 20-point plan aimed at ending the Gaza war and establishing long-term peace, as US President Donald Trump hosted Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

The proposal envisions transforming Gaza into "a deradicalized terror-free zone that does not pose a threat to its neighbors" while ensuring the enclave "will be redeveloped for the benefit of the people of Gaza, who have suffered more than enough."

Under the plan, "if both sides agree to this proposal, the war will immediately end," with Israeli forces withdrawing to agreed positions. During this process, all military operations will be suspended, and the battle lines will be frozen until the necessary conditions for a phased withdrawal are met.

Within 72 hours of Israel's acceptance, all hostages, both living and deceased, must be returned, according to the plan's outline, also posted on social media.

Following the hostage releases, Israel would free 250 life-sentence prisoners and 1,700 Gazans detained after Oct. 7, 2023. For every Israeli hostage whose body is returned, Israel will return the bodies of 15 Gazans who were killed, according to the plan.

Hamas members who "commit to peaceful co-existence and to decommission their weapons will be given amnesty," and Hamas members wishing to leave Gaza would also be provided with safe passage to countries that accept them.

"Upon acceptance of this agreement, full aid will be immediately sent into the Gaza Strip," with distribution proceeding "without interference from the two parties through the UN and its agencies," alongside the Red Crescent and others who do not have any links to either party, under the plan.

The aid will be at least at levels consistent with the amounts specified agreement dated this Jan. 19, which includes the rehabilitation of infrastructure, hospitals, and bakeries, and the entry of equipment necessary for debris removal and road clearance.

The opening of the Rafah border (into Egypt) crossing in both directions would also be subject to the mechanism implemented under the Jan. 19 agreement.

- Governance, reconstruction

According to the plan, Gaza would be governed by "a technocratic, apolitical Palestinian committee" responsible for daily public services. Hamas and other factions would have "no role in the governance of Gaza, directly, indirectly, or in any form."

The committee would consist of Palestinian and international experts, and an international transitional body chaired by Trump and other world leaders called the “board of peace” would assume the supervisory duties.

According to the plan, Hamas' entire military attack infrastructure would be destroyed and not be rebuilt, with the process monitored by independent observers.

The US would work with Arab partners to deploy a temporary International Stabilization Force.

According to the plan, the force would provide training and support to “vetted Palestinian police forces in Gaza.” It will also cooperate with Israel and Egypt to ensure the security of border areas.

If Hamas rejects the proposal, a “scaled-up aid operation" would proceed in the territories under the force’s control.

According to the plan, regional partners would "ensure that Hamas, and the factions, comply with their obligations and that New Gaza poses no threat to its neighbors or its people."

"Israel will not occupy or annex Gaza," with its military forces withdrawing as the international force establishes control, it said.

A Trump economic development plan "to rebuild and energize" Gaza would establish "a special economic zone with preferred tariff and access rates" negotiated with participating countries.

"No one will be forced to leave Gaza, and those who wish to leave will be free to do so and free to return," it said.

The plan includes an interfaith dialogue process and states that "when the PA (Palestinian Authority) reform program is faithfully carried out, the conditions may finally be in place for a credible pathway to Palestinian self-determination and statehood."

“The United States will establish a dialogue between Israel and the Palestinians to agree on a political horizon for peaceful and prosperous co-existence,” the plan said.

The Israeli army has killed over 66,000 Palestinians, most of them women and children, in Gaza since October 2023. The relentless bombardment has rendered the enclave uninhabitable and led to a famine.