Washington D.C. – September 29, 2025 – Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu secured significant revisions to a U.S. proposal regarding the future of Gaza, resulting in a plan that slows and limits the scope of Israel’s eventual withdrawal from the territory, according to sources familiar with the negotiations. the updated plan, publicized Monday, details a complete demilitarization of Gaza and addresses the destruction of Hamas infrastructure.
The revised proposal stipulates “all military, terror, and offensive infrastructure, including tunnels and weapon production facilities, will be destroyed and not rebuilt.” It outlines a demilitarization process overseen by independent monitors,including the permanent decommissioning of weapons through an internationally funded buy-back and reintegration program.
A diplomat from a mediating country revealed that Netanyahu leveraged direct access to former President Trump following a multilateral meeting on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly to push for the changes. This timing proved crucial, occurring late in the process when intervention from other parties was more difficult. During a joint press conference with Netanyahu at the White House today, Trump acknowledged the Israeli premier’s “understand[able] opposition to a Palestinian state,” a statement perceived as diminishing the proposal’s envisioned pathway to Palestinian statehood.
The diplomat indicated that the current proposal will likely face resistance from Hamas, particularly the requirement for the immediate release of all remaining hostages within the first 72 hours of the agreement, in exchange for only a partial initial withdrawal of israeli troops. Hamas will likely seek amendments, similar to Netanyahu’s prosperous efforts, though previous U.S. negotiators have insisted on unconditional acceptance of their proposals.
Palestinians survey rubble after an Israeli airstrike in the Shati refugee camp, west of Gaza City, September 26, 2025.(Fathi Ibrahim/FLASH90)
Former President Trump and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu depart after a joint press conference in the State Dining Room of the White House, September 29, 2025. (Jim WATSON / AFP)
