Trump and Netanyahu Announce 'Gaza Peace Initiative'... Only Hamas Yet to Agree

Joint Press Conference at the White House
War to End Within 72 Hours If Hamas Agrees
"Gaza to Be Temporarily Governed by Palestinian Committee"

US President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu agreed on September 29 (local time) to implement President Trump's "Gaza Peace Initiative." If Hamas, the Palestinian militant group and another party to the conflict, also agrees to the initiative, it could provide a breakthrough to end the Gaza war that has lasted for nearly two years.

After a summit with Prime Minister Netanyahu at the White House that day, President Trump held a joint press conference where he mentioned his peace initiative and said, "I would like to thank Prime Minister Netanyahu for agreeing to this plan."

U.S. President Donald Trump (right) and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Photo by EPA Yonhap News

He continued, "If Hamas accepts, my proposal stipulates that all hostages will be released immediately, within no more than 72 hours," adding, "Therefore, the hostages will return, and this will mean the immediate end of the war."

On this day, the White House announced "President Trump's Comprehensive Plan to End the Gaza Conflict," consisting of 20 provisions. The core of the plan is that if both Israel and Hamas agree, the war will end immediately, and postwar Gaza will be temporarily governed by a technocratic and non-political "Palestinian Committee." President Trump will chair this committee, which will be supervised by a "Peace Committee" that includes other world leaders such as former UK Prime Minister Tony Blair.

President Trump said, "I hear that Hamas also wants to reach an agreement," and added, "That is a good thing." He continued, "There is always a possibility that Hamas will reject this agreement. They would be the only ones left out. Everyone else has accepted it," adding, "But I think we will get a positive response from Hamas."

President Trump also said, "If not, Prime Minister Netanyahu, you will have even greater support in doing what you need to do," putting pressure on Hamas. This implies that if Hamas rejects his peace initiative, he will actively support Israeli military action.

According to the Associated Press, citing sources, President Trump's peace initiative has been conveyed to the Hamas negotiating team, and Hamas is said to be reviewing it in good faith. The New York Times reported that while the plan calls for the release of hostages within 72 hours, the timing of the withdrawal of Israeli forces remains unclear, making it unlikely that Hamas will accept the plan.

Regarding his peace initiative, President Trump said, "I would like to thank the Arab and Muslim countries, as well as many European allies, for their tremendous support in developing this proposal," indicating that he had received backing from various countries.

Prime Minister Netanyahu stated, "Today, we have taken an important step toward ending the war and set the stage for dramatically advancing peace in the Middle East," and added, "I support your plan to end the Gaza war."

He emphasized, "This plan will achieve our war objectives, bring all hostages back to Israel, dismantle Hamas's military capabilities and political control, and ensure that Gaza will never again pose a threat to Israel."

Prime Minister Netanyahu said that if Hamas also agrees and the plan is properly implemented, "all hostages, both survivors and the deceased, will be returned immediately," and "Hamas will be disarmed and Gaza will be demilitarized." He added, "A peaceful civilian government will be established in Gaza, one that is not run by either Hamas or the Palestinian Authority (PA)."

Prime Minister Netanyahu warned that if Hamas rejects the agreement or effectively violates it after initially accepting, "Israel will complete the mission on its own," further pressuring Hamas.

After their remarks at the press conference, the two leaders left without taking questions from reporters. President Trump said, "It would be best not to take questions while we are waiting for signatures and approvals from several other countries involved in this matter," and Prime Minister Netanyahu agreed.

Meanwhile, according to the White House, President Trump and Prime Minister Netanyahu held a three-way phone call with Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani that day. During the call, Prime Minister Netanyahu expressed regret over the airstrikes on Qatar.

A source from Israel told CNN that this apology was part of an effort to pressure Qatar to urge Hamas to accept President Trump's "Gaza Peace Initiative."

The Gaza war began on October 7, 2023, when Hamas launched a surprise attack on Israel, killing more than 1,200 people, including civilians, and taking over 250 hostages. It is currently known that about 20 surviving hostages remain in Hamas captivity. According to the Gaza Health Ministry, which is controlled by Hamas, the number of Palestinian deaths due to Israeli attacks recently exceeded 66,000.