Post by : Naveen Mittal

Trump and Netanyahu Tout Gaza Peace Agreement — But Major Gaps Remain

US President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stood side by side and declared they were “very close” to a peace deal over Gaza. Yet beneath the grand proclamations lie deep disagreements — especially around who will control Gaza’s security and long-term governance.

What Trump says he proposed

Trump rolled out a sweeping 20-point peace framework aimed at ending the war in Gaza and securing the release of hostages. Among its key elements:

• A demilitarised Gaza: All armed groups, especially Hamas, would be dismantled, their tunnels, weapons, and production facilities destroyed.

• An international “Board of Peace” to oversee Gaza’s day-to-day governance, with a technocratic leadership chosen by the board, not by popular vote.

• An international stabilization force (ISF) to handle security in collaboration with Israel, Egypt, and newly trained Palestinian police.

• A conditional path for the Palestinian Authority (PA) to take over long-term governance — but only after major internal reforms.

• Trump proposed to chair the oversight board himself, calling in figures like Tony Blair, and excluding Hamas entirely from decision-making.

In Trump’s words, this plan would hand Palestinians “responsibility for their destiny,” asking them to denounce terrorism and work for a “brighter future.”

Netanyahu’s stance — aligned or divergent?

Netanyahu backed many of Trump’s aims — hostages returned, Hamas dismantled, Gaza stripped of military threats. But he diverged sharply on key details:

• He insisted that Israel retain ultimate security control, including a security perimeter over Gaza “for the foreseeable future.”

• On governance, he rejected both Hamas and the PA running Gaza, favouring a neutral civilian administration yet to be defined.

• He implied that if the plan falters or Hamas rejects it, Israel will “finish the job” alone — with US backing.

Netanyahu’s remarks, especially his emphasis on retained Israeli control and reluctance to empower the PA, conflict with parts of Trump’s vision.

The role (or absence) of Hamas

Trump’s plan puts the ball squarely in Hamas’s court: accept or refuse.
Analysts argue the proposal amounts to an ultimatum — effectively surrender or face renewed conflict.
Hamas has not yet publicly accepted the plan. And if they reject it, Trump made clear the US would fully back Israel’s next steps.

Challenges ahead & skepticism

Observers emphasize major obstacles:

• Security vs sovereignty: Can Gaza truly be sovereign if Israel continues enforcing a security zone?

• Popular legitimacy: Will Palestinians accept a governance structure imposed by international actors rather than elected leaders?

• Enforcement risks: If cooperation fails, Israel — or the US — may resume bombing or military operations.

• Netanyahu’s track record: He has historically resisted Israeli concessions or strong PA authority over Gaza.

• Human impact: Many Gazans remain wary. They hope for a pause in bombing, release of prisoners, and a guarantee that violence won’t resume — none of which are ironclad in this plan.

As one commentator put it: Yes, the deal might offer short-term hope. But unless the deep structural tensions are resolved, it could unravel fast.

Disclaimer:
This article is based on publicly available reporting and aims to summarise and interpret the developments. It does not represent original reporting from the ground and should not be taken as definitive.

Gaza, peace plan, Trump, Netanyahu, Hamas, Middle East diplomacy, international relations