Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (Pic credit: AP)
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will be asked to make “painful and significant” concessions under a US-backed plan to end the war in Gaza, including allowing the Palestinian Authority to play a central role in governing the enclave, Israeli media reported Saturday.The proposals, revealed by the Times of Israel and first aired on Channel 12 television, run counter to Netanyahu’s repeated insistence that Israel should retain security and administrative control of Gaza after the conflict.
Palestinian Authority at the centre
According to the plan, Washington envisions a gradual expansion of the Palestinian Authority’s governing powers after a transitional phase overseen by an international body. Former British Prime Minister Tony Blair has been floated as a possible interim administrator.The Palestinian Authority, created under the 1994 Oslo Accords and currently led by Mahmoud Abbas, lost control of Gaza to Hamas following the 2006 Palestinian elections. The US plan bars Hamas from any role in a future governing structure, instead paving a path that could eventually lead to Palestinian statehood if reforms are completed.
Step-by-step roadmap
Under the Trump administration’s blueprint:
- A transitional body would manage day-to-day services in Gaza.
- The Israeli Defence Forces would gradually withdraw from the territory.
- Palestinians displaced during the war would be allowed to return — a shift from Trump’s earlier proposals to temporarily relocate them.
The framework contains 21 provisions in total, according to the Times of Israel.
Pressure on Hamas, Qatar
US officials are exerting “heavy pressure” on Qatar to coax Hamas into accepting the plan, Channel 12 reported. Washington believes Arab states will only join efforts to press Hamas into releasing Israeli hostages if the Palestinian Authority is part of the postwar arrangement.Trump presented the plan to allies at the United Nations earlier this week, but has yet to present its full scope to Hamas formally.
Netanyahu faces showdown in Washington
The timing places Netanyahu in a political bind. He is due to meet Trump at the White House on Monday, where the plan’s most contentious details are expected to dominate discussions.The Israeli leader has long rejected any role for the Palestinian Authority in Gaza, framing its return as a security risk. Accepting the US plan would mark a dramatic reversal of policy — but rejecting it risks straining ties with Israel’s closest ally at a critical juncture in the war.
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