The White House released details of President Donald Trump’s plan to end the war in Gaza. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu expressed support for the plan, while Hamas promised to study it responsibly.

The plan calls for initiating dialogue between Israel and the Palestinians to reach a political horizon ensuring peaceful and prosperous coexistence, emphasizing that Israel will neither occupy nor annex Gaza, nor force any party to leave.

The initiative includes a 72-hour suspension of all Israeli military operations in Gaza, including air and artillery strikes, starting from the moment Israel publicly accepts the agreement. During this period, all living prisoners will be released and the remains of the dead handed over. According to the plan, Hamas will release the remains of one Israeli prisoner in exchange for the remains of 15 deceased from Gaza.

The plan stipulates the withdrawal of the Israeli army according to timetables and criteria related to a disarmament process, agreed upon with Israeli forces, guarantors, and the United States.

After completing the prisoner releases, Israel will release 250 prisoners serving life sentences and 1,700 detainees from Gaza arrested after October 7, 2023.

The plan commits to the immediate and full entry of aid into Gaza upon agreement acceptance. If Hamas delays or rejects the proposal, the provisions, including expanded aid, will be implemented in areas described as “terror-free” by the agreement.

According to the White House, Trump’s plan provides a safe passage for Hamas members wishing to leave Gaza.

International Council to Manage Gaza

Following the announcement, President Trump held a joint press conference at the White House with Prime Minister Netanyahu, stating that Arab and Islamic countries will be responsible for dealing with Hamas.

Trump added that the plan includes immediate disarmament of Hamas and destruction of its military infrastructure, warning that if Hamas rejects the agreement, Netanyahu will have full support to take necessary actions.

The US president revealed that the proposed plan calls for establishing a new international supervisory body over Gaza called the Peace Council, saying, “I will personally chair the Peace Council in Gaza with Tony Blair,” explaining that the council will be responsible for forming a government in Gaza including Palestinians and others, excluding Hamas.

He said many Palestinians wish to live in peace “and they have my support,” adding that “Israelis were generous in giving up Gaza,” describing Netanyahu as “a warrior and Israel is lucky to have him, but the people want peace and normalization.”

Trump also said Hamas was elected by Palestinians and Israel withdrew from Gaza, but what happened was not peace, stressing Netanyahu strongly opposes the establishment of a Palestinian state “and I understand that.”

The US president considered the “Abraham Accords” proof that all countries are better when working together, noting that countries that established relations with Israel achieved prosperity unlike those that sought to erase it from the map.

Gaza and Hamas

Netanyahu also stated that Trump is the greatest friend they have had in the White House, considering the US president’s vision helped change the world for the better.

Netanyahu announced his support for Trump’s plan to end the war in Gaza, confirming it will return all living and deceased prisoners, ensure Gaza no longer threatens Israel, disarm Hamas, and guarantee Gaza’s administration excludes Hamas and the Palestinian Authority.

The Israeli prime minister said Trump’s peace plan will mark a new beginning for the region and praised Trump’s stance that the Palestinian Authority will have no role in Gaza before meeting certain conditions.

Netanyahu called on the Palestinian Authority to stop incitement against Israel and its efforts in international courts, stressing that recognizing a Palestinian state poses a danger to Israel’s existence.

Hamas Studies the Plan

In a later development, a diplomatic source told Al Jazeera that Qatar and Egypt delivered the White House plan to Hamas’s negotiating delegation, which promised the mediators to study the proposal responsibly.

The Qatari and Egyptian mediators met Hamas representatives on Monday and handed over President Trump’s 20-point plan to end the war in Gaza, according to an AFP official.

The source, who requested anonymity, said Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani and Egyptian General Intelligence Director Mahmoud Rashad recently met Hamas negotiators and handed them the plan. Hamas negotiators said they will study the plan in good faith and respond.

Source: Al Jazeera