US-led peace plan for Gaza enters its next phase
Image: Baker Institute
Late Thursday, President Trump announced that negotiators had reached what he called a "historic agreement" on the next phase of his Gaza peace plan, laying out a path for Hamas to relinquish its governing role and military capabilities.
The latest proposal builds on Trump's original 20-point peace plan, which called for:
- Ending the war through a phased ceasefire, the release of Israeli hostages and Palestinian prisoners, and a staged Israeli withdrawal from Gaza.
- Replacing Hamas with a temporary Palestinian technocratic government, backed by an international "Board of Peace," until a long-term governing authority is established.
- Demilitarizing Gaza by dismantling Hamas' military infrastructure, with the US and international partners to oversee humanitarian aid, reconstruction, and long-term economic redevelopment.
The next phase is here
Last week’s agreement calls for Hamas to begin a staged disarmament process, beginning with police weapons before moving on to heavy weapons and stockpiles once officials confirm both sides are following through on their commitments.
- As Hamas steps aside, a newly trained Palestinian police force, backed by an International Stabilization Force, would gradually take over security responsibilities.
- Israeli troops would then withdraw from Gaza in phases tied to those disarmament milestones.
However, conflict still remains
The proposal is built on the assumption that neither side trusts the other, with each phase only moving forward if both sides uphold their commitments. However, disagreement currently stems from who should make the first move.
Israeli officials say they won't withdraw troops until Hamas has genuinely disarmed, arguing the group must prove it's given up its military capabilities before Israel relinquishes territory.
On the flip side: Hamas says Israel must stop its military operations and begin withdrawing before it takes further steps toward disarmament. The group also said it had only agreed to surrender heavy weapons, not lighter firearms such as assault rifles carried by individual fighters.
Looking ahead... The US and Board of Peace officials say implementation of the new plan could begin within the next month or two. But with replacement security forces still being assembled and both sides waiting for the other to move first, analysts say the proposal still faces significant hurdles before it can move from paper to reality.
📊 Flash poll: In general, do you support or oppose the US-proposed peace plan aimed at permanently ending fighting in the Gaza Strip?
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Sprinkles from the Left
- Some commentators argue that failing to hold Israel accountable for its actions in Gaza sets a dangerous international precedent because it weakens efforts to prevent and punish future acts of genocide while signaling that countries can avoid meaningful consequences for such crimes.
- Others contend that the Board of Peace's portrayal of Gaza as moving toward stability normalizes what they describe as an ongoing humanitarian catastrophe, arguing that continued violence, displacement, aid restrictions, and civilian deaths demonstrate that the ceasefire has failed to provide meaningful protection.
- “I’m a Scholar of Genocide. We’re Entering a Terrifying New Era.” –Omer Bartov. NYT
- “Trump’s Board Has Made Gaza the Most Dangerous Place on Earth to Be a Child” –Jamal Kanj, Common Dreams
- “Why Trump’s new plan to disarm Hamas is unlikely to yield a quick win in Gaza” –Matt Bradley, NBC
Sprinkles from the Right
- Some commentators argue that while the latest Gaza peace roadmap is worth pursuing because it offers a path toward ending the conflict, lasting peace depends on fully dismantling Hamas's military capabilities, making it essential for the US and Israel to approach the agreement with caution and ensure its disarmament commitments are fulfilled.
- Others contend that lasting peace in Gaza requires more than a written agreement, arguing that unresolved questions about enforcement, disarmament, and governance make it difficult to know whether the proposed roadmap can be successfully implemented.
- “The Gaza Road Map vs. Trump Peace Plan - WSJ Editorial Board
- “A few questions about the new hopeful Gaza peace plan” –NY Post Editorial Board
- “The lie that Israel's committing 'genocide' is fuelling antisemitism” –Joe Oliver, National Post
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