Trump, Netanyahu in Washington on September 29, 2025.
Trump Hosts Trilateral Call Between Israel and Qatar;
Calls Gaza Agreement ‘One of the Biggest Days’
Hamas Leader Mardawi seeks a written version before responding
Washington: President Donald J. Trump unveiled his 21-point Comprehensive Plan to End the Gaza Conflict, which was he said was accepted by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The Times of Israel said it was also accepted by former Prime Minister and present Leader of the Opposition Yair Lapid.
The White House described the initiative as a ‘historic’ step toward ending hostilities, staging hostage releases, Gaza reconstruction, governance, and long-term security arrangements.
Senior Hamas official Muhammad Mardawi, in an interview with the Qatari channel Al Jazeera, immediately reacted to the plan, stating that it “leans toward the Israeli perspective” and closely mirrors Netanyahu’s conditions to continue the war. He added that Hamas requires a written version before responding, noting, “Neither Hamas nor any Palestinian has seen the plan yet.”
During a trilateral phone call earlier in the day from the Oval Office, President Trump engaged Prime Minister Netanyahu and Qatari Prime Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani to chart a new course in Israeli-Qatari relations, strained by past grievances. Trump outlined a trilateral mechanism to enhance coordination, improve communication, resolve mutual grievances, and strengthen collective efforts to counter shared threats. The three leaders agreed to work constructively to clear misperceptions and build on longstanding ties with the United States.
Netanyahu expressed deep regret over Israel’s missile strike on Hamas targets in Qatar, which unintentionally killed a Qatari serviceman. He acknowledged violating Qatari sovereignty amid hostage negotiations and pledged that such attacks would not recur. Prime Minister Al Thani welcomed these assurances, reiterating Qatar’s readiness to contribute meaningfully to regional security and stability. Netanyahu affirmed Israel’s commitment to the same goal.
The leaders also discussed broader regional issues, including ending the Gaza conflict, enhancing security across the Middle East, and fostering greater understanding between their countries. Trump praised both leaders for taking concrete steps toward closer cooperation and emphasised that these efforts serve peace and security for all parties.
At a subsequent White House press conference, Trump called the initiative “potentially one of the biggest days ever in civilisation,” highlighting its framework for hostage returns, reconstruction, governance, and international oversight. He thanked a string of Muslim leaders, including Saudi King Salman Al Saud, Qatari Emir Tamim al Thani, Emirati President Mohammed bin Zayed, and Foreign Minister Abdullah bin Zayed, for their input in developing the plan. He also thanked Jordan’s King Abdullah, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Egyptian President Abdel Fatah el Sisi, Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, and Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto, noting their cooperation and influence in shaping the initiative.
President Trump Participates in a Press Conference with the Prime Minister of the State of Israel https://t.co/Gazc335nGb
— The White House (@WhiteHouse) September 29, 2025
Trump’s plan calls for Gaza to become a deradicalised, terror-free zone, with all military operations suspended during the staged hostage release process. Within 72 hours of Israel’s acceptance, all hostages, alive and deceased, will be returned. Israel will release 250 life-sentenced prisoners and 1,700 Gazans detained after October 7, 2023, including women and children, and return remains of deceased Gazans at a ratio of 15 to 1 for Israeli hostages. Hamas members who commit to peaceful coexistence and disarmament will receive amnesty, and those wishing to leave Gaza will have safe passage. The plan explicitly removes Hamas from governance and mandates the permanent dismantling of all military infrastructure.
Humanitarian aid will flow immediately through the United Nations, Red Crescent, and other neutral agencies, covering infrastructure repair, hospitals, bakeries, rubble clearance, and roads. Entry via the Rafah crossing will follow mechanisms from the January 19, 2025, humanitarian agreement.
Governance will transition to a technocratic, apolitical Palestinian committee, supervised by the Board of Peace, chaired by President Trump, with international experts, including former UK Prime Minister Tony Blair. A special economic zone will attract international investment with preferential tariffs and access.
Security arrangements include a temporary International Stabilisation Force (ISF) to train vetted Palestinian police, secure borders, and prevent weapons inflow. Israel will withdraw progressively, retaining only perimeter security until Gaza is stabilised. Interfaith dialogue programmes are planned to foster tolerance and peaceful coexistence.
Trump emphasised regional and international coordination as critical for the plan’s success, calling the day “historic for peace… eternal peace in the Middle East.” Netanyahu reaffirmed Israel’s commitment, while Prime Minister Al Thani pledged Qatar’s support. Analysts have noted that, if fully implemented, the plan could serve as a historic precedent for U.S.-facilitated conflict resolution, combining diplomacy, development, and international oversight.
The plan also addresses a staged Israel Defense Forces (IDF) withdrawal, phased hostage exchanges, reconstruction under transparent governance, and guarantees from regional partners to ensure Hamas compliance. A map showing proposed IDF withdrawal stages was released by the White House on September 29, 2025.
Former Netanyahu spokesman Omer Dostri publicly criticized the plan on social media, arguing that it represents an “absolute failure,” effectively abandoning Gaza territory, leaving Hamas undefeated, and enabling the return of the Palestinian Authority and the establishment of a Palestinian state.
Implementation Timeline and 21-Point Operations Plan
The plan’s phased operations include: immediate suspension of hostilities, 72-hour staged hostage returns, release of prisoners, Hamas disarmament and amnesty, humanitarian aid delivery, governance transition to a technocratic Palestinian committee, Board of Peace oversight, creation of a special economic zone, temporary ISF deployment, interfaith dialogue, long-term transition to Palestinian Authority control, phased economic redevelopment, regional guarantees, and independent monitoring and verification. Contingency measures allow aid delivery to proceed in areas where Hamas delays compliance.
The plan emphasises freedom of movement, ensuring that residents may stay or leave Gaza freely. Oversight and funding allocation will be handled by the Board of Peace, applying international best practices to rebuild Gaza efficiently. Staged reviews at critical milestones will verify IDF withdrawal, hostage releases, Hamas compliance, and governance functionality. The ultimate objective is a secure, stable, economically viable Gaza under transparent governance, with regional cooperation, ensuring Gaza poses no threat to Israel or neighbouring countries.
— The White House (@WhiteHouse) September 29, 2025
Trump underscored that, if accepted by Hamas, the plan ensures the immediate end of the war, not merely cessation of hostilities, with phased humanitarian, economic, and governance measures to secure long-term peace.
The 21-point plan represents the first comprehensive, internationally overseen framework addressing hostages, armed conflict, governance, reconstruction, and economic revitalisation in Gaza, setting a precedent for U.S.-facilitated conflict resolution in the Middle East.
– global bihari bureau