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Unveiled at the White House, Trump’s plan outlines a detailed framework to end two years of conflict in Gaza.
Benjamin Netanyahu (IMAGE: AFP)
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has rejected claims that he accepted the idea of a Palestinian state during recent talks in Washington with US President Donald Trump. Hours after describing Trump’s 20-point Gaza peace plan as a “historic breakthrough”, Netanyahu clarified in a video message that there was “absolutely not” any agreement on statehood.
“It’s not written in the agreement,” Netanyahu said, stressing that Israel would “strongly oppose” such a move. He argued that granting statehood would be a “massive prize for terror”, and insisted Trump shared this view. His remarks stand in contrast to the official White House text, which explicitly refers to a “credible pathway to Palestinian self-determination and statehood” under strict conditions.
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What is Trump’s Gaza ceasefire plan?
Unveiled at the White House, Trump’s plan outlines a detailed framework to end two years of conflict in Gaza. Key elements include:
Immediate ceasefire and hostage exchange: Hamas must release all remaining Israeli hostages within 72 hours. Israel will reciprocate by freeing detainees and returning remains.
Phased Israeli withdrawal: Israeli forces would pull out gradually, replaced by an international stabilisation force.
New governance model: Hamas would be excluded from administration, with Gaza instead run by a technocratic Palestinian committee under the supervision of a “Board of Peace” chaired by Trump and featuring international figures such as former UK Prime Minister Tony Blair.
Demilitarisation: Hamas is expected to disarm completely, including dismantling tunnels and weapons stockpiles.
Reconstruction: Large-scale humanitarian and economic aid would be mobilised to rebuild Gaza and create local jobs.
The plan emphasises that Palestinians will not be forcibly displaced and leaves open a long-term option for statehood if governance reforms succeed.
How did the international community react?
Arab and European governments cautiously welcomed the conditional pathway to statehood, while the Palestinian Authority viewed the proposal as a possible step forward. Hamas negotiators said they would “study it in good faith” but criticised the demand for disarmament without a full Israeli withdrawal.
On the ground in Gaza, displaced residents voiced scepticism. “It’s a farce,” one said, doubting the deal would end violence or restore stability.
Netanyahu under pressure?
Within Israel, the plan has deepened political divisions. Netanyahu hailed it as proof that Hamas had been isolated and that Arab nations were “pressuring Hamas to accept terms we created together with Trump”. Yet members of his coalition, including Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, reiterated their “red lines” against any concessions towards Palestinian statehood or involving the Palestinian Authority in Gaza’s governance.
While Trump declared the initiative as “one of the great days ever in civilisation”, its prospects remain uncertain. Netanyahu’s rejection of statehood, Hamas’s reluctance to disarm, and coalition resistance in Israel all threaten its implementation.
About the Author
Shuddhanta Patra, a seasoned journalist with eight years of experience, serves as Senior Sub‑Editor at CNN News 18. With expertise across national politics, geopolitics, business news, she has influenced public…Read More
Shuddhanta Patra, a seasoned journalist with eight years of experience, serves as Senior Sub‑Editor at CNN News 18. With expertise across national politics, geopolitics, business news, she has influenced public… Read More
Delhi, India, India
September 30, 2025, 13:56 IST
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