Context: Recently US president ordered Israel to immediately stop the bombing of Gaza after Hamas said it had accepted parts of his 20-point plan to end the nearly two-year war.

  • Israeli Prime Minister’s office said the country was preparing for “immediate implementation” of the first stage of Trump’s plan, focusing on the release of hostages.

What is 20-point Gaza peace Plan?

Main elements of the plan:

  • Hostages release: Within 72 hours of Israel accepting the proposal, all hostages will be returned. Afterward, Israel will also release Palestinian prisoners.
  • Amnesty to Hamas member: Once all hostages are freed, Hamas members who wish to leave Gaza will get safe passage.
    • The plan envisions a “deradicalized” Gaza that will be redeveloped for its people’s benefit.
  • Board of Peace: Gaza will be governed by a temporary transitional governance of a technocratic, apolitical committee of Palestinians and international experts, to be overseen by the Board of Peace.
  • Economic development: A special economic zone will be established with preferred tariff and access rates to be negotiated with participating countries.
  • Governing of Gaza: Hamas and other factions would agree to have no role whatsoever in governing Gaza, directly or indirectly.
  • Role of regional partners: The United States will work with Arab and international partners to develop a temporary International Stabilization Force to immediately deploy in Gaza.
  • Palestinian statehood: The Israeli Defense Forces will progressively hand over the Gaza territory it occupies to the International Stabilisation Force.

Timeline of the Israel-Hamas war (2023–2024)

  • Oct 7, 2023: Hamas launches surprise attack on Israel, killing more than 1,200 and abducting 250.
  • Oct 8, 2023: Hezbollah fires missiles at Israel from Lebanon in support of Gaza.
  • October 27, 2023: Israeli ground forces entered Gaza.
  • September 29, 2025: Trump unveiled his 20-point peace plan.

Israel and the Palestinians: History of the conflict 

  • Post World War I: After the defeat of the Ottoman Empire, Britain took control of the region known as Palestine.
    • At the time, it was home to an Arab majority, a Jewish minority, and other ethnic groups.
  • Balfour Declaration (November 2, 1917): UK pledged to establish a “National Home” in Palestine for Jewish people.
  • Between the 1920s and 1940s: Jewish immigration to Palestine increased, especially as many fled European persecutions.
    • By 1947, the Jewish population reached over 30% of the total population.
  • UN Partition Plan (1947): The UN agreed partitioning Palestine into separate Jewish and Arab states, with Jerusalem under international control.
    • Jewish leaders accepted the plan, gaining 56% of the land, but the Arab League rejected it.
  • May 14, 1948: Jewish leaders in Palestine declared an independent state known as Israel.
    • Israel was recognised by the UN the following year.
  • 1948 Arab-Israeli war: Israel was attacked by the armies of five Arab nations.
    • Agreements left Egypt occupying the Gaza Strip, Jordan occupying the West Bank and East Jerusalem, and Israel occupying West Jerusalem.
  • 1967 Middle East war: Also known as the Six-Day War, the war saw Israel fight Egypt, Syria and Jordan.
    • Israel captured the Sinai Peninsula and Gaza from Egypt, most of the Golan Heights from Syria, and East Jerusalem and the West Bank from Jordan.
  • 1979: Israel signed a peace treaty with Egypt and returned the Sinai.
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