Tuesday, September 30, 2025 - Donald Trump declared at a White House press conference with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday night, September 29, that the unveiling of his 20-point road map for the Middle East was "potentially one of the great days ever in civilisation."
The US President announced a plan promising not only an "immediate
end to the war" in the Gaza Strip but a broader deal to bring
"eternal peace in the Middle East."
Central to the proposal is the establishment of a transitional authority
to govern Gaza.
Trump confirmed he would chair this new body, a "Board of
Peace," alongside former British Prime Minister Sir Tony Blair, whom he
described as "a very good man.
Trump insisted the role was "not at my request" but said,
"it's what I want" due to its overwhelming importance. The board is
set to include leaders from other nations and will oversee the process should
Hamas agree to the terms.
The peace plan, circulated to Arab leaders, was released following the two
leaders' meeting in Washington. It calls for an immediate ceasefire and
stipulates that Hamas must agree to the terms and release all 48 remaining
hostages (20 living and 28 bodies) within 72 hours.
Following a ceasefire, Hamas would be required to disarm and destroy its
offensive weaponry, with an Israeli withdrawal to be timed to the release of
the last hostages. A "temporary international stabilisation force"
would deploy, replacing military governance with the Trump-led transitional
authority.
The document promises full aid and investment, and crucially, states,
"we will encourage people to stay and offer them the opportunity to build
a better Gaza," confirming Palestinians will not be forced to leave.
Prime Minister Netanyahu, standing beside Trump, gave his full backing,
telling the US President, "I support your plan to end the war in Gaza
which achieves our war aims. This will be your crowning achievement."
Both leaders, however, issued a stark ultimatum to Hamas: if the terror
group rejects the deal, Trump vowed Israel would have his administration's
"full backing... to finish the job". Netanyahu warned, "This can
be done the easy way or it can be done the hard way, but it will be done."
The proposal has been met with immediate international reaction. UK Prime
Minister Sir Keir Starmer backed the plan, calling it "profoundly
welcome" and urging Hamas to "now agree to the plan and end the
misery, by laying down their arms and releasing all remaining hostages."
Sir Tony Blair himself commended the "bold and intelligent
plan." However, a senior Hamas official, Muhammed Mardawi, offered a
preliminary rejection, claiming the plan "leans toward the Israeli
perspective" and "is close to what Netanyahu insists on in order to
continue the war."
Hamas has not yet formally received the document, and Palestinians were
not consulted on the details of the transitional authority.
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