Cairo, Egypt – Hamas and Israel reached an agreement on Wednesday night on the first phase of US President Donald Trump’s plan for the Gaza Strip.
It is a plan that stipulates the exchange of hostages and detainees and the entry of aid into the Palestinian Strip after two years of war.
Below is the verbatim text of Trump’s comprehensive plan to stop the war in the Gaza Strip, consisting of 20 items, as published by the White House:
- Gaza will be a region free of extremism and terrorism and will not pose a threat to its neighbors.
- Gaza will be rebuilt for the benefit of its people who have suffered so much.
- If both parties agree to this proposal, the war will end immediately. Israeli forces will withdraw to the agreed line to prepare for the release of the hostages. Meanwhile, all military operations, including air and artillery bombardment, will be suspended, and battle lines will remain frozen until conditions for a full withdrawal are met in stages.
- Within 72 hours of Israel’s public acceptance of this agreement, all hostages, living or dead, will be handed over.
- Once all hostages are released, Israel will release 250 prisoners sentenced to life imprisonment, in addition to the 1,700 Gazans it detained after October 7, 2023, including all women and children detained in this context. For every Israeli hostage whose body is returned, Israel will return the bodies of 15 dead invaders.
- After all hostages return, Hamas members who commit to peaceful coexistence and surrender their weapons benefit from a general amnesty. Hamas members who wish to leave Gaza will have the right of safe passage to other countries.
- Once this agreement is accepted, full aid will be brought into the Gaza Strip. The amounts of aid will be at least consistent with those stipulated in the January 19, 2025 agreement on humanitarian aid, including the rehabilitation of infrastructure (water, electricity and sanitation), the rehabilitation of hospitals and bakeries, and the arrival of equipment necessary to remove rubble and open roads.
- The entry and distribution of aid into the Gaza Strip will take place, without any interference from either party, through the United Nations and its agencies, the Red Crescent, in addition to other international institutions not linked to either party. The opening of the Rafah crossing in both directions will be subject to the same mechanism stipulated in the January 19, 2025 agreement.
- Gaza will be governed under a temporary transitional authority of a technocratic, non-politicized Palestinian committee responsible for the daily management of public and municipal services for Gaza’s residents. This committee will consist of qualified Palestinians and international experts, under the supervision and oversight of a new international transitional body called the “Peace Council”, which will be headed by President Donald Trump, with other members and heads of state to be announced, including former (British) Prime Minister Tony Blair. This body will establish the framework and manage funding for Gaza reconstruction until the Palestinian Authority completes its reform program, as contained in various proposals, including Trump’s 2020 peace plan and the Saudi-French proposal, and is able to regain control of Gaza in a safe and effective manner. This body will rely on the best international standards for modern and effective management that serves the people of Gaza and helps attract investments.
10. Trump developed an economic development plan to rebuild and revive Gaza by forming a committee of experts who contributed to the birth of some of the thriving modern cities in the Middle East. Many well-thought-out investment proposals and ideas for exciting real estate projects have been prepared by well-intentioned international groups, which will be studied to reach a security and administrative framework that attracts and facilitates these investments, which will create job opportunities, opportunities, and hope for the future of Gaza.
11. A special economic zone will be established, with preferential tariffs and entry fees that still need to be negotiated with participating countries.
12. No one will be forced to leave Gaza, and those who wish to leave will be free to do so and return to it. We will encourage people to stay and provide them with the opportunity to build a better Gaza
13. Hamas and other factions are committed not to play any role in governing Gaza, whether directly, indirectly, or in any way. All military, terrorist and offensive infrastructure, including tunnels and weapons production facilities, will be destroyed and will not be rebuilt. There will be a disarmament process from Gaza under the supervision of independent observers that will include permanently placing weapons out of service, through an agreed disarmament process supported by an internationally funded repurchase and reintegration programme, all of which will be verified by independent observers. The new Gaza will be fully committed to building a prosperous economy and coexisting peacefully with its neighbors.
14. A guarantee will be provided by regional partners to confirm that Hamas and the factions adhere to their pledges, and that the new Gaza Strip does not pose a threat to its neighbors or residents.
15. The United States will work with Arab and international partners to build an Interim International Stabilization Force (ISF) for immediate deployment to Gaza. This force will provide training and support to approved Palestinian police forces in Gaza, and will be in close contact with Jordan and Egypt, which have extensive experience in this field. This force will be the long-term internal security solution. The international force will work with Israel and Egypt to help secure the border areas, as well as with newly trained Palestinian police forces. It is essential to prevent the entry of ammunition into Gaza and facilitate the rapid and safe deployment of goods to rebuild and revitalize Gaza. A de-escalation mechanism will be agreed upon between the two parties.
16. Israel will not occupy or annex Gaza. As the International Stabilization Force establishes control and stability, the Israeli army withdraws on the basis of disarmament-related criteria, stages, and timetables agreed upon between the Israeli army, the International Stabilization Force, the guarantors, and the United States, with the aim of reaching Gaza safely and not posing a threat to Israel, Egypt, or its citizens. In practice, the Israeli army will gradually hand over the Gaza territories it occupies to the International Stabilization Force in accordance with an agreement that will be concluded with the Transitional Authority until its complete withdrawal from Gaza, with the exception of a presence in a security belt that will remain until Gaza is properly secured from the risks of any renewed terrorist threat.
17. If Hamas delays or rejects this proposal, the above-mentioned elements, including the expanded aid operation, will be implemented in terrorism-free zones that the Israeli army hands over to the International Stabilization Force.
18. An interfaith dialogue process will be held based on the values of tolerance and peaceful coexistence in an attempt to change the mindsets of Palestinians and Israelis while focusing on the benefits that can result from peace.
19. As Gaza’s reconstruction progresses and the Palestinian Authority’s reform program is faithfully implemented, conditions may finally be ripe for opening a credible path toward self-determination and the establishment of a Palestinian state, something we recognize the Palestinian people aspire to.
20. The United States will establish a dialogue between Israel and the Palestinians to agree on a political horizon for peaceful and prosperous coexistence.
