President Donald Trump said on Monday that he had Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s backing for a wide-ranging Gaza peace plan that would bring an immediate ceasefire. The plan, which Trump has circulated to Arab leaders, was released after Trump met Netanyahu in Washington.

Trump told a press conference that Netanyahu had agreed to the plan, which calls for an immediate ceasefire, followed by the disarmament of Hamas and an Israeli withdrawal. Hamas has yet to give its approval, but Trump said he was hopeful the militant group was in favor. Trump said approval from all sides was “beyond very close.”

Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu said he supported Trump’s 20-point plan to end the war in Gaza. “I support your plan to end the war in Gaza which achieves our war aims. It will bring back to Israel all our hostages, dismantle Hamas’s military capabilities, end its political rule, and ensure that Gaza never again poses a threat to Israel,” said Netanyahu, speaking at the joint press conference with Trump at the White House.

However, the Israeli leader, citing Trump’s “clear statement against recognition of a Palestinian state” at the UN General Assembly, cast doubt on whether the Palestinian Authority, which runs the West Bank, would be allowed a role in Gaza’s governance. “Gaza will have a peaceful, civilian administration that is run neither by Hamas nor by the Palestinian Authority,” said Netanyahu.

He added that Israel would “retain security responsibility” for Gaza under a US-backed peace plan, and that it would “finish the job” of destroying Hamas if the Palestinian group rejected the deal.

The 20-point plan states that, upon agreement by both sides, “the war will immediately end,” with Israeli withdrawals timed to the release of the last hostages held by Hamas. During that initial period, there would be a ceasefire. Key points include the deployment of a “temporary international stabilization force” and the creation of a transitional authority headed by Trump.

The deal would demand that Hamas militants fully disarm and be excluded from future roles in government. However, those who agreed to “peaceful co-existence” would be given amnesty. Following Israeli withdrawal, the borders would be opened to aid and investment.

In a crucial change from Trump’s earlier apparent goals, Palestinians will not be forced to leave; instead, the document said, “we will encourage people to stay and offer them the opportunity to build a better Gaza.” (AFP)