Trump unveils 20-point Gaza framework, seeks Israeli backing

Former U.S. President Donald Trump has introduced a 20-point framework for peace in Gaza, presenting it not as a detailed roadmap but as a set of guiding principles for renewed negotiations.

The plan outlines several key measures: the release of hostages and prisoners, partial withdrawals of Israeli forces, and the creation of a governance and security structure for Gaza. Trump dubbed himself chairman of a so-called “Board of Peace,” a symbolic role that, under the plan, would give him oversight in shaping Gaza’s future.

The announcement was less about policy specifics and more about optics, with Trump securing Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s public agreement to the principles during a joint appearance at the White House.

While Israeli officials have indicated support, Hamas leaders had not reviewed the proposal until late Monday, according to sources cited by the BBC. Analysts say the militant group may now face pressure from Qatar and other Arab states to engage with the framework.

This marks a notable shift in Trump’s approach. Gone is the controversial “Gaza Riviera” concept, floated earlier this year, which critics said amounted to forced displacement of Palestinians. Instead, the new framework is broad enough to appeal to both Arab governments and Netanyahu, though it leaves Israel’s far-right factions dissatisfied.

Still, the document leaves much unresolved. Some provisions are only a sentence long, particularly on sensitive issues like Palestinian self-determination, where both sides are expected to clash in negotiations.

For now, Trump’s proposal provides a platform to restart talks rather than a definitive path to peace — a first step in what could become a much longer diplomatic process.