Donald Trump has announced a comprehensive 20-point ceasefire agreement aimed at the total disarmament of Hamas and the subsequent withdrawal of Israeli military forces from Gaza. According to Trump, this deal represents a significant step toward establishing a new Palestinian government, which he noted will cooperate with the Board of Peace to support the local population. Trump emphasized that the arrangement is designed to provide Israel with necessary security, ensuring that Gaza is no longer utilized as a base for terror operations.
The plan outlines a transition period in which a new technocratic Palestinian government, to be headed by former UK Prime Minister Tony Blair, will oversee the reconstruction of the territory. Once the disarmament process is finalized, Israeli forces are scheduled to withdraw, transferring security responsibilities to a newly formed International Stabilisation Force. This force is expected to operate in coordination with Palestinian police to maintain stability. Officials clarified that the Palestinian police force will exclude the vast majority of Hamas militants, and the initial phase of the agreement does not include the surrender of heavy weaponry.
A representative from the Board of Peace indicated that the decommissioning of tunnels and the surrender of heavy armaments will occur later in a process projected to last between 200 and 350 days. While Israel has expressed skepticism regarding Hamas' willingness to relinquish control, a US official stated that Israeli leadership has been consulted throughout the negotiations. The official maintained that Israel is not being asked to exceed its original commitments under the 20-point plan, which primarily involves withdrawing forces and ending airstrikes. Trump reportedly stated he would be deeply disappointed if Israel failed to adhere to the terms.
The conflict, which began following the 7 October 2023 incursion into southern Israel, has resulted in at least 73,000 Palestinian deaths, according to local medical sources. Currently, the Israeli Defence Forces maintain control over more than half of Gaza, where the United Nations has reported dire living conditions for displaced residents. Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met at the White House on Tuesday to discuss the situation, though details regarding their first face-to-face meeting since the start of the war remain limited.
