On Friday, United States President Donald Trump told reporters he is close to getting a deal that would end the Israel-Hamas war and bring hostages home. This plan, according to a copy obtained by The Washington Post, would start with the immediate halt of all military operations; “battle lines” being frozen in place; and the release of all 20 living hostages within 48 hours.
“Once all the hostages have been released,” the Washington Post quoted the plan as saying, “Israel will release 250 life sentence prisoners plus 1,700 Gazans who were detained after October 7. … For every Israeli hostage whose remains are released, Israel will release the remains of 15 deceased Gazans.”
Details of Trump’s plan
Once the agreement is accepted, per the proposal, “full aid will be immediately sent into the Gaza Strip … including rehabilitation of infrastructure [water, electricity, sewage], rehabilitation of hospitals and bakeries, [and] entry of necessary equipment to remove rubble and open roads.” A “temporary transitional governance” of “qualified Palestinians and international experts” would run everyday public services for Gaza.
The governing body for this, the Post wrote, would be “supported and supervised” by a “new international body” created by the United States and others. Eventually, the Palestinian Authority would go through “internal reforms” in order to take over Gaza.
The full plan, which the Post verified by officials from two governments briefed on it by the Trump administration, has 21 points. As part of it, Hamas’ offensive weapons would be destroyed, though any militants who promised to “commit to peaceful co-existence” would be allowed amnesty, and safe passage would be facilitated for them to other countries.
United States officials shared the plan with various governments during meetings at the United Nations this past week, The Washington Post wrote, and it’s anticipated that Trump will push for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to accept it when the two meet Monday at the White House.
Many parts of the plan remain unclear, the news outlet noted, including what kinds of “governance, security and rehabilitation and development” measures would be put in place for those in Gaza and how quickly. It also does not address in detail how the 21 points in the plan besides an initial ceasefire and aid increase would be enacted.
The plan does say that no Palestinians in Gaza would be forced to leave. Those who did leave would be entitled to return, though where this would be is also not clear as the document details a “Trump economic development plan to rebuild and energize” Gaza.
“Nothing is finalized … these are broad strokes,” one official from the region told The Washington Post. “There are still things that need to be ironed out.”
Speaking to reporters before departing from the White House to go to the Ryder Cup golf tournament in New York, Trump said on Friday that “it’s looking like we have a deal on Gaza.”
“I think it’s a deal that gets the hostages back, it’s going to be a deal that ends the war,” Trump said, although he did not give more information on a potential timeline.
Death toll in Gaza increases
Israel hasn’t publicly responded to the plan, or Trump’s remarks. Reuters reported that Hamas said it did not receive it.
Israel has faced international condemnation and criticism as the offensive in Gaza escalates, and Palestinians in the enclave face famine and mass displacement. Numerous aid organizations, officials and experts said Israel is committing a genocide — a charge which the country denies.
The Associated Press reported Sunday that the death toll is now at over 66,000 Palestinians killed since Oct. 7, 2023, when Hamas militants came into Israel, killing 1,200 people and taking 250 hostage.
On Sunday, the AP wrote, local hospitals said at least 10 people were killed in Israeli strikes that hit the Nuseirat refugee camp. There have been 79 deceased brought to hospitals in the last 24 hours.
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