Donald Trump first spoke of Israeli–Palestinian peace as the “Deal of the Century” during his 2016 presidential campaign. While genuine peace remains elusive, Trump’s newly announced plan — unveiled on Monday — lays what he claims to be the groundwork for ending the war in Gaza and initiating a new phase in the region.
According to The Washington Post columnist David Ignatius, Trump’s so-called “New Gaza Plan” is framed as an attempt to ease the suffering of Palestinians devastated by months of war, while simultaneously repairing the damage inflicted on Israel since the October 7, 2023 resistance attack. The report highlights the catastrophic humanitarian conditions in Gaza — destruction, hunger, and fear — contrasted with Israel’s continued focus on its captured hostages. This framing is used to push the urgency of halting the fighting.
Ignatius notes that Trump’s proposal of a “Peace Council” to oversee Gaza’s transitional phase could represent a significant shift, particularly as he advances his political ambitions. However, the plan is described as enforcing a ceasefire that effectively demands the complete surrender of Hamas, aligning with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s insistence on achieving a so-called “total victory.”
The plan offers Netanyahu both political and security gains. It sidelines the Palestinian Authority until it undergoes “reform,” keeps Israel entrenched in a designated buffer zone inside Gaza, and signals potential Saudi support — even without a clear commitment to the establishment of a Palestinian state.
Trump’s team, working with certain Arab allies, reportedly drafted a framework involving the creation of a technocratic Palestinian committee to manage services in Gaza. This body would be backed by an international stabilisation force and a newly trained police unit. Countries such as Italy, Indonesia, and Azerbaijan have already expressed willingness to contribute militarily. Oversight of the plan would involve Egypt, Jordan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE.
The report also reveals prominent roles for Jared Kushner and former British Prime Minister Tony Blair, alongside Qatari and Emirati backing. Still, key challenges remain unresolved — particularly the future of Hamas and the long-term stability of Gaza under occupation-imposed frameworks.
While Trump presents this initiative as a departure from earlier ideas of forced displacement, emphasising instead that Gaza’s residents should remain and rebuild, serious questions linger. Can such a plan, rooted in the logic of Israeli security and Arab normalisation, truly deliver justice and stability for Palestinians? Or will it, like earlier “peace” initiatives, serve as another step towards normalising occupation at the expense of Palestinian rights?
