Trump Presents Gaza Peace Plan, Netanyahu Apologizes to Qatar Amidst Continued Offensive
Former President Donald Trump has unveiled a plan aimed at ending the conflict in Gaza, outlining conditions for a ceasefire that include the return of all hostages held by Hamas, the dismantling of the group’s military capabilities, and the end of its political rule in Gaza. Speaking alongside Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Trump asserted the plan would ensure Gaza “never again poses a threat to Israel,” with Israel maintaining security duty, including a security perimeter, “for the foreseeable future.” The plan envisions a “peaceful, civilian administration” in Gaza, excluding both Hamas and the Palestinian authority.
The initiative’s success hinges on Hamas’s participation, which remains uncertain. tony Blair, representing the plan’s proponents, described it as a “bold and clever plan” offering “the best chance of ending two years of war, misery and suffering,” and thanked Trump for his “leadership, determination and commitment.”
The announcement followed a formal apology from Netanyahu to Qatar’s Prime minister,Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman al-Thani,for a recent Israeli military strike within Qatar targeting Hamas officials. The strike,which infuriated Arab leaders and drew criticism from the US,unintentionally resulted in the death of a Qatari serviceman. Netanyahu expressed “deep regret” for the incident, affirming Israel would not repeat such an action, and clarified that Israel’s target was terrorists, not Qatar itself. Trump characterized the conversation between the two leaders as a ”heart-to-heart” call.
The proposal received a joint welcome from the foreign ministers of Saudi Arabia, Jordan, United Arab emirates, Qatar and Egypt. The Palestinian Authority also expressed support for Trump’s “determined efforts” to end the war. However, Ziad al-Nakhala, chief of the Iran-backed Palestinian Islamic jihad group – which also holds hostages – condemned the plan as a “recipe to blow up the region.”
Previous US-backed ceasefire attempts have failed to bridge the divide between Israel and Hamas. Netanyahu has repeatedly stated his commitment to continuing military operations until Hamas is “entirely dismantled.”
As discussions surrounding the plan unfolded, Israeli forces continued their offensive in Gaza, with tanks advancing deeper into Gaza City. Since October 7, 2023, the Israeli offensive has resulted in over 65,000 deaths, predominantly civilians, and more than 160,000 injuries.
