President Donald Trump announced a comprehensive peace proposal on September 29, 2025, aimed at ending the two-year conflict in Gaza, presenting the plan alongside Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the White House. The initiative has garnered significant international support but faces fierce criticism over what Palestinians describe as a colonial imposition—with Trump himself chairing an international oversight body that would control Gaza's future.
How the Plan Works: Step by Step
The proposal follows a precise sequence designed to end hostilities and establish new governance in the Gaza Strip.
Step 1: Immediate Ceasefire and Hostage Exchange
Once both parties agree, all fighting must stop within 72 hours. During this period, Hamas must release all 48 remaining Israeli hostages—approximately 20 believed alive. In return, Israel would free 250 Palestinian prisoners serving life sentences and 1,700 Palestinians detained since October 7, 2023.
Step 2: Hamas Disarmament
Hamas must completely surrender all weapons and relinquish control of Gaza. The militant group would have no future role in governing, either directly or indirectly. Members willing to commit to peaceful coexistence would receive amnesty, while those who refused would be exiled.
Step 3: Temporary International Governance
A "Board of Peace" chaired by Trump himself, which would include former British Prime Minister Tony Blair, would oversee Gaza's transition. A temporary Palestinian technocratic committee would handle daily administration, while an International Stabilization Force led by Arab nations would provide security as Israeli forces gradually withdraw.
Step 4: Long-term Vision
The plan offers a pathway to Palestinian statehood if the Palestinian Authority implements necessary reforms, though it provides no guarantees or specific timelines for this outcome.
The Controversial "Board of Peace": Trump and Blair in Control
The most striking feature of Trump's plan is the establishment of a "Board of Peace" with the U.S. president himself as chairman. In this unprecedented arrangement, the leader of Israel's leading financial and military backer would directly oversee Palestinian governance. Former British Prime Minister Tony Blair has been confirmed as the first member of this international body, sparking immediate outrage among Palestinians.
Blair's inclusion has proven particularly inflammatory. The architect of the 2003 Iraq War, which resulted in hundreds of thousands of deaths, now finds himself positioned to shape Gaza's future. For many Palestinians, Blair represents the worst of Western intervention in the Middle East, embodying what they see as a long history of British and American colonial control over Arab lands.
Palestinian analysts and critics have seized on what they describe as the plan's fundamentally colonial character. The proposal envisions the U.S. president and former British prime minister—representing the two nations most responsible for creating and sustaining the current situation—now assuming direct control over Palestinian governance and the future.
The historical parallels are impossible to ignore. Britain's colonial mandate over Palestine from 1920 to 1948 facilitated Jewish immigration that ultimately led to Israel's creation and the Palestinian displacement known as the Nakba. Now, a former British prime minister would help oversee the Palestinian territories once again. At the same time, the American president—whose country provides Israel with over $3 billion annually in military aid—would chair the body controlling Gaza's reconstruction and governance.
Critics argue that this arrangement fundamentally contradicts the principle of Palestinian self-determination. Rather than allowing Palestinians to choose their own leadership and chart their own course, the plan imposes an international structure designed and controlled by external powers with clear interests in the outcome.
International Response: So Far Positive
Despite Palestinian objections, eight Arab and Muslim nations—Saudi Arabia, Jordan, UAE, Indonesia, Pakistan, Turkey, Qatar, and Egypt—issued a joint statement welcoming Trump's efforts. European leaders, including EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and French President Emmanuel Macron, have endorsed the initiative, with the EU calling it "the best immediate chance to end the war."
Russia expressed cautious optimism, while China has previously rejected similar Trump proposals, particularly opposing the forced displacement of Palestinians.
Hamas Under Pressure to Decide
Hamas has not formally responded but is reportedly "reviewing it responsibly" under intense pressure from Arab mediators. Qatar, Egypt, and Turkey are urging the group to accept, with Qatari officials telling Hamas leaders they won't receive a better offer.
However, a senior Hamas official told the BBC the organization is likely to reject the plan, calling it biased toward Israel. Trump has given Hamas "three or four days" to respond, warning that rejection would result in "an unfortunate end."
Significant Challenges Ahead
The plan faces substantial obstacles beyond its colonial overtones. Critics note it lacks crucial details, particularly regarding timelines for Israeli withdrawal and the methodology for Hamas disarmament. The proposal requires Hamas to surrender all leverage simultaneously while trusting Israeli commitments—a fundamental dilemma for the organization.
Netanyahu's commitment also remains questionable. Despite endorsing the plan, he later reaffirmed his opposition to Palestinian statehood, stating Israel would "forcibly resist" such an outcome. His coalition includes far-right members who oppose key elements, with Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich condemning the proposal as a "diplomatic failure."
Palestinian Islamic Jihad, Hamas's ally, has rejected the proposal outright as "a formula for igniting the region." At the same time, the Palestinian Authority has cautiously welcomed the initiative, though its endorsement risks further alienating it from the Palestinian population.
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