Washington, September 29, 2025 – U.S. President Donald Trump has expressed strong optimism about a Gaza peace deal, stating it is in its “final stages” ahead of a critical meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday, September 29, 2025, at the White House. Trump described the potential agreement as “the first chance for real peace in the Middle East,” emphasizing that, if successful, it would be “a great day for Israel and the Middle East.”
Trump’s 21-Point Peace Plan
The Trump administration unveiled a 21-point plan to end the nearly two-year Gaza war during a meeting with Arab and Muslim leaders on September 23, 2025, at the United Nations General Assembly. Key elements of the plan include:
- Immediate ceasefire with all hostages (approximately 20 living and remains of others) released by Hamas within 48 hours.
- Gradual Israeli withdrawal from Gaza.
- Post-war governance without Hamas, featuring a Gaza International Transitional Authority (GITA), potentially led by former UK Prime Minister Tony Blair, with a multinational security force including Arab and Palestinian personnel.
- No Israeli annexation of the West Bank or Gaza, with a commitment to halt settlement expansion and maintain the status quo at Al-Aqsa Mosque.
- Release of Palestinian prisoners, including 100–200 serving life sentences and around 2,000 detained since October 7, 2023.
- Increased humanitarian aid and funding from Arab nations for Gaza’s reconstruction.
- Pathway to Palestinian statehood, contingent on significant Palestinian Authority reforms, though not explicitly endorsing a Palestinian state.
The plan has garnered support from leaders of Saudi Arabia, UAE, Qatar, Egypt, Jordan, Turkey, Indonesia, and Pakistan, who issued a joint statement on September 24, 2025, endorsing Trump’s leadership to end the conflict. However, Hamas has called negotiations “frozen,” and a senior official criticized the plan as insufficient, demanding guarantees for their position in Gaza.
Netanyahu’s Reservations
Despite Trump’s optimism, Netanyahu has expressed reservations, particularly over provisions involving the Palestinian Authority and references to Palestinian statehood aspirations, which his far-right coalition opposes. On September 26, 2025, at the UN General Assembly, Netanyahu vowed to “finish the job” against Hamas, signaling reluctance to end military operations in Gaza City, where Hamas remnants are reportedly holed up. Israeli officials noted that while Netanyahu is broadly aware of the plan through discussions with Trump’s envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, he seeks amendments and may resist elements that conflict with his goal of dismantling Hamas entirely.
Regional and International Context
The Gaza conflict, sparked by Hamas’s October 7, 2023, attack that killed 1,200 Israelis and took 251 hostages, has resulted in over 66,000 Palestinian deaths, according to Gaza’s health ministry, with widespread famine reported. Recent Israeli airstrikes, including one in Doha targeting Hamas leaders, have stalled talks and drawn U.S. criticism. Arab leaders have warned that West Bank annexation would jeopardize the Abraham Accords, a cornerstone of Trump’s first-term diplomacy. Trump’s firm stance against West Bank annexation, reiterated on September 25, 2025, aims to preserve these accords and secure Arab support for Gaza’s reconstruction.
Challenges and Humanitarian Crisis
The ongoing Israeli offensive in Gaza City has displaced over 700,000 Palestinians, with recent attacks killing at least 36, including 10 in Nuseirat and 15 in Gaza City, as reported by Al Jazeera. The death of a two-and-a-half-month-old infant from malnutrition in Khan Younis underscores the dire humanitarian situation, with famine and lack of medical access rampant. Hostage families in Israel, frustrated with Netanyahu’s focus on military action, rallied in New York on September 28, 2025, urging Trump to secure a deal.
Trump’s Broader Vision
Trump’s plan extends beyond Gaza, aiming to resume broader Middle East peace efforts, including Saudi-Israeli normalization. However, Saudi Arabia insists on a Palestinian state with East Jerusalem as its capital, a condition Netanyahu rejects. Trump’s earlier February 2025 proposal to resettle Gaza’s 2 million Palestinians and develop the strip as a “Riviera of the Middle East” was widely condemned as violating international law and was later walked back.
Outlook
The Monday meeting between Trump and Netanyahu is pivotal, with Trump leveraging his close ties with Netanyahu to push for a ceasefire while facing resistance from both Hamas and Israel’s far-right. Despite Trump’s confidence, experts like Natan Sachs of the Middle East Institute caution that the deal hinges on Hamas and Netanyahu, both of whom have historically rejected concessions. As Gaza’s humanitarian crisis worsens, the international community, including European allies, watches closely, with hopes pinned on a breakthrough to avert further catastrophe.
