Trump, Netanyahu say they’ve agreed to plan to end Gaza war
Make us a preferred source
Make us a preferred source on Google
The news: Donald Trump and Benjamin Netanyahu jointly announced they had agreed to a plan to end the war in Gaza, as the White House released the full 20-point proposal. Hamas has the option of accepting the deal or, as Trump warned, face full US backing for further Israeli military action.
At a joint press conference Trump said Netanyahu had agreed to the proposal and described it as a “historic day for peace”, adding that it had support from leaders of Middle Eastern and Muslim-majority countries.
The plan, which was also shared with regional leaders last week in New York, calls for an immediate end to hostilities if accepted by both Israel and Hamas, the return of all hostages within 72 hours, and the release of close to 2,000 Palestinian prisoners by Israel.
According to media reports citing an email from the White House detailing the plan, Hamas, which earlier told media it was not consulted and has not yet received the plan, would be required to disarm and have no role in governing Gaza.
Control of the territory would be handed to a technocratic, apolitical Palestinian committee, overseen by a “Board of Peace” chaired by Trump and involving other world leaders, including Tony Blair.
The proposal pledges a major international reconstruction effort, resumption of aid, and includes an economic development plan and special tariff zone.
Earlier, Netanyahu expressed “deep regret” to Qatar in a Trump-brokered call over an Israeli strike in Doha that killed a Qatari serviceman.
What they said: Speaking to reporters before declining to take questions, Trump said “I have a feeling that we’re going to have a positive answer [from Hamas]. But if not, as you know, Bibi you’d have my full backing to do what you would have to do.”
At the same press conference Netanyahu then said: “Today we are taking a critical step towards both ending the war in Gaza, and setting the stage for dramatically advancing peace in the Middle East.”
“I support your plan to end the war in Gaza, which achieves our war aims. It will bring back to Israel all our hostages,” Netanyahu added.
“This can be done the easy way, or it can be done the hard way, but it will be done,” he said. “We prefer the easy way, but it has to be done.”
The sources: The New York Times , Associated Press , Bloomberg
