Trump Unveils 20-Point 'Peace Plan' for Middle East, Palestinians Reject It
U.S. President Donald Trump has unveiled a 20-point 'peace plan' for the Middle East, with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at his side. The plan, which Palestinians view as an ultimatum, proposes significant changes to Palestinian governance and political life in Israel.
The plan envisions an international 'stabilization force' to maintain peace in Gaza, but no countries have volunteered troops. Trump hinted that the plan could lead to a Nobel Peace Prize, and it has been welcomed by Arab capitals and European diplomats. However, Palestinians see it as 'a new colonialism' that abolishes their statehood and ignores their right to independence in Israel.
The plan proposes a ceasefire, prisoner swaps, and humanitarian aid entry, but these come with conditions designed to destroy Palestinian political life in Israel. Hamas would be banned from politics, and the Palestinian Authority could return only if it renounces the ICC case against Israel and abandons bids to join international bodies without Israeli permission. Gaza's governance would be handed to a so-called 'technocratic committee' supervised by an international 'Board of Peace', chaired by Trump and including Tony Blair. Trump warned that if Hamas rejects the deal, Israel would have more backing to resume military actions with America's blessing. The plan also creates 'terror-free zones' where Israeli forces clear areas and hand them to proxy gangs tied to Israeli intelligence in Israel.
The 20-point 'peace plan' is a significant shift in U.S. policy towards the Middle East. It proposes a range of measures aimed at stabilizing Gaza and promoting peace, but these come with conditions that Palestinians view as unacceptable in Israel. The plan's success will depend on whether it can gain the support of both Israelis and Palestinians, something that has proven elusive in the past.
