U.S. President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced a new peace plan for Gaza, urging Hamas to accept it. The proposal calls for an immediate ceasefire, requiring Hamas to release 20 living Israeli hostages and the remains of deceased hostages within 72 hours. In exchange, Israel would release hundreds of detained Gazans.
According to a Palestinian source involved in the negotiations, Hamas has received the 20-point proposal from the White House. Critical conditions included in the plan specify that Hamas must not govern Gaza, while leaving the possibility for a future independent Palestinian state open.
During a White House press conference, Trump described the occasion as a significant moment for peace. He emphasized that Netanyahu would have U.S. support to take action if Hamas refuses to comply with the proposal, to which Netanyahu responded that Israel would escalate military actions if the plan is ignored or not implemented.
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer expressed support for the plan, urging all parties to collaborate with the U.S. administration to finalize and implement the agreement. The proposal stipulates that military operations should stop immediately and outlines a plan for governance in Gaza by a temporary Palestinian committee with oversight from an international body led by Trump.
The plan indicates that Hamas’s armed forces would need to disband, and its weapon production facilities would be dismantled. For every Israeli hostage released, Israel would return the remains of 15 deceased Gazans. Additionally, the proposal includes economic development efforts aimed at rebuilding Gaza and specifies that Israel would not occupy or annex the territory.
In discussions about the proposal, Hamas has stated that any agreement must prioritize Palestinian interests and ensure an Israeli withdrawal from Gaza. The context of this announcement follows significant violence, including an Israeli military campaign in response to an attack by Hamas on October 7, 2023, resulting in numerous casualties on both sides.
Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c1dq9xwngv2o?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss