KEY POINTS
- Trump said Netanyahu has endorsed a US peace plan for Gaza.
- The plan calls for an immediate ceasefire, Hamas disarmament and phased Israeli withdrawal.
- Trump described approval from all sides as “beyond very close.”
- Hamas has not yet given its response but Trump voiced optimism.
- A 20-point document outlines Israeli withdrawals tied to hostage releases.
- Plan proposes a temporary international force and a transitional authority.
- Gaza borders would reopen to aid and investment once Israel withdraws.
- Trump warned Israel would have US backing to “finish the job” if Hamas rejects the deal.
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Trump thanks Pakistan’s PM Sharif and Field Marshal Munir for supporting the peace plan.
- Since October 2023, Israel’s offensive has killed more than 66,000 Palestinians.
WASHINGTON: US President Donald Trump said on Monday that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had endorsed his proposed Gaza peace plan, which calls for an immediate ceasefire, disarmament of Hamas and a phased Israeli withdrawal.
The plan, which Trump has circulated to Arab leaders, was released after Trump met Netanyahu in Washington.
Trump told a press conference that Netanyahu had agreed to the plan, which calls for an immediate ceasefire, followed by disarmament of Hamas and Israeli withdrawal.
Hamas also has yet to give its approval but Trump said he was hopeful the Palestinian group was in favour. Trump said approval from all sides was “beyond very close.”
Trump said that Washington was “very close” to securing peace in the Gaza war, after meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and releasing a 20-point peace plan.
“Things that have been going on for hundreds of years and thousands of years we’re going to, at least we’re at a minimum very, very close and I think we’re beyond very close and I want to thank Bibi for really getting in there and doing a job,” he told reporters, referring to Netanyahu by a nickname.
Netanyahu said he supported Trump’s plan to end the war in Gaza.
“I support your plan to end the war in Gaza which achieves our war aims. It will bring back to Israel all our hostages,” said Netanyahu.
Israel to withdraw from Gaza ‘in phases’
Trump said that Washington’s peace plan for Gaza would involve the drawing up of a timeline for Israeli forces to withdraw from the Palestinian enclave in phases.
“Working with the new transitional authority in Gaza, all parties will agree on a timeline for Israeli forces to withdraw in phases,” Trump told reporters at the White House, referring to a new body that would govern the Palestinian territory.
Trump thanked Netanyahu for agreeing to a peace plan that would end the war in Gaza and said he himself was hopeful Hamas would accept it as well.
“I also want to thank Prime Minister [Benjamin] Netanyahu for agreeing to the plan and for trusting that if we work together, we can bring an end to the death and destruction that we’ve seen for so many years,” Trump said at a press conference with Netanyahu.
“I hope that we’re going to have a deal for peace, and if Hamas rejects the deal, which is always possible, they’re the only one left, everyone else has accepted it, but I have a feeling that we’re going to have a positive answer.”
Trump said Israel would have his “full backing” to destroy Hamas if the Palestinian group rejected a 20-point peace proposal.
“Israel would have my full backing to finish the job of destroying the threat of Hamas but I hope that we’re going to have a deal for peace,” Trump said.
Trump’s Gaza peace plan
The 20 point plan states that on agreement by both sides, “the war will immediately end” with Israeli withdrawals timed to release of the last hostages held by Hamas. During that initial period, there would be a ceasefire.
Key points of the proposed peace plan include deployment of a “temporary international stabilization force” and creation of a transitional authority headed by Trump.
The deal would demand that Hamas fully disarm and be excluded from future roles in the Palestinian government. However, those who agreed to “peaceful co-existence” would be given amnesty.
Following the Israeli withdrawal, the borders would be opened to aid and investment.
In a crucial change from Trump’s earlier apparent goals, Palestinians will not be forced to leave and instead, the document said, “we will encourage people to stay and offer them the opportunity to build a better Gaza.”
Trump thanks Pakistan PM, Army Chief for support
Trump thanked Arab, Muslim and European leaders for backing his Gaza peace proposal. “I want to thank the leaders of many Arab and Muslim nations for their tremendous support in developing the proposal, as well as our allies in Europe,” Trump said.
He thanked Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Army Chief Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir for supporting the peace plan.
“The prime minister and the field marshal of Pakistan … they were with us right from the beginning. In fact, they just put out a statement that they fully believe in this pact,” Trump stated. “They back this 100 percent.”
Earlier today, Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif welcomed Trump’s proposed plan to end the war in Gaza.
In a message on X, PM Shehbaz Sharif said, “durable peace between the Palestinian people and Israel is essential in bringing political stability and economic growth to the region.”
“I welcome President Trump’s 20-point plan to ensure an end to the war in Gaza,” PM Sharif said.
I welcome President Trump’s 20-point plan to ensure an end to the war in Gaza.
I am also convinced that durable peace between the Palestinian people and Israel would be essential in bringing political stability and economic growth to the region.
It is also my firm belief that…
— Shehbaz Sharif (@CMShehbaz) September 29, 2025
PM Sharif expressed his firm belief that President Trump is fully prepared to assist in making this extremely important and urgent understanding a reality.
He lauded the leadership of President Trump and the efforts of US Special Envoy to the Middle East Steve Witkoff towards ending the war in Gaza.
Shehbaz Sharif reiterated Pakistan’s principled position and his strong belief that the implementation of the two-state proposal is essential to ensure lasting peace in the region.
‘All are onboard’
The US president had met key Arab leaders at the United Nations last week and said Sunday on social media that “ALL ARE ON BOARD FOR SOMETHING SPECIAL, FIRST TIME EVER.”
Netanyahu has recently given little reason for optimism, vowing in a defiant UN speech Friday to “finish the job” against Hamas and rejecting Palestinian statehood — recently recognized by several Western nations.
Normally a staunch ally of Netanyahu, the US president has shown increasing signs of frustration ahead of the Israeli premier’s fourth White House visit since Trump’s return to power.
Trump was infuriated by Israel’s recent strike on Hamas members in the key US ally Qatar.
And he warned Netanyahu last week against annexing the occupied West Bank, as some of Netanyahu’s cabinet members have urged, a move that would seriously complicate the route to Palestinian statehood.
Netanyahu’s coalition government is propped up by the far-right ministers who oppose a peace deal.
Israel’s military offensive since October 2023 has killed 66,055 Palestinians, mostly civilians, according to health ministry figures in the Palestinian territory that the United Nations considers reliable.
