The proposal, which comes amid deepening frustration over the prolonged conflict, includes a number of provisions that previous negotiations have struggled to resolve—most notably the requirement for Hamas to disarm. While this condition has been consistently rejected in past talks, current dynamics on the ground appear to have shifted calculations.

Following a meeting at the White House, Netanyahu signalled that Israel views the plan as a final offer. He warned that if Hamas fails to accept the terms, Israel will move forward unilaterally to bring the war to a close.

The Palestinian leadership in the West Bank has expressed support for the proposal and has pledged to implement the governance and institutional reforms it outlines. The plan also received positive reactions from several regional governments, including Egypt, Jordan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and others, who issued a joint statement in support of the initiative.

Despite these developments, several unresolved issues remain. The proposal does not address the establishment of a Palestinian state—a demand that many regional actors and international stakeholders consider essential for long-term peace. Instead, it calls for governance reforms and the formation of a temporary governing body that would include international figures and Palestinian technocrats. The reformed Palestinian Authority would be expected to take over civilian administration at a later stage.

Unlike earlier versions, this plan does not call for population displacement from Gaza. It does, however, demand the release of all remaining hostages by Hamas within 72 hours of the group accepting the agreement. In exchange, Israel would release hundreds of Palestinian prisoners, including many serving life sentences.

President Trump emphasised that progress is being made, stating that the leadership of Hamas has been significantly weakened and that this may create conditions for agreement. He affirmed that if Hamas rejects the plan, Israel would continue its military campaign with the full backing of the U.S. administration.

Under the terms of the proposal, Hamas members who disarm and commit to peaceful political engagement would be granted amnesty, and those who choose to leave Gaza would be allowed safe passage to third countries.

As diplomatic efforts continue, a recent Israeli military strike targeting Hamas officials in Qatar has added a layer of tension. The incident, which reportedly resulted in the death of a Qatari serviceman, drew strong criticism from the region. During his White House visit, Netanyahu called Qatar’s prime minister to express regret for the strike, which was described as a violation of Qatari sovereignty. The Israeli government committed to preventing similar incidents in the future.

Despite these assurances, some members of Israel’s governing coalition publicly supported the strike, creating internal political friction. Netanyahu now faces the challenge of balancing international pressure with the demands of his domestic political allies, many of whom oppose any concessions to Hamas or the idea of halting the military campaign before the group is fully dismantled.

In a related development, Trump reaffirmed that the U.S. will not support Israeli annexation of the West Bank, a position at odds with certain elements of Netanyahu’s coalition. He has also pledged continued U.S. involvement in regional diplomacy and humanitarian efforts.

According to estimates, Hamas is currently holding 48 hostages, with around 20 believed to be alive. The group has previously conditioned their release on a complete Israeli withdrawal from Gaza and a permanent ceasefire—conditions not met in the new plan.

During recent meetings with Arab and Islamic leaders on the sidelines of the U.N. General Assembly, Trump presented the plan as an opportunity for a new beginning. He called on Palestinian leaders to take charge of their own political future and pledged support for building institutions that promote democracy and nonviolence.

The war, now nearing its third year, began with a large-scale attack in 2023 that left over 1,200 people in Israel dead and more than 250 taken hostage. Since then, the conflict has caused widespread devastation across Gaza. According to figures from the Gaza Health Ministry, over 66,000 Palestinians have been killed, and about 90 percent of the population has been displaced. Famine and limited access to humanitarian aid continue to worsen conditions.

International calls for a ceasefire have intensified. In recent weeks, several countries, including traditional allies of Israel, have formally recognised Palestinian statehood and criticised Israel’s conduct in the war. Some Arab nations have gone further, accusing Israel of committing war crimes or even genocide—a charge Israel denies and is currently contesting at the International Court of Justice.

Whether this latest proposal will mark a turning point remains unclear. While some parties view it as a step toward peace, others remain skeptical, pointing to unresolved core issues such as sovereignty, statehood, and mutual recognition.

This latest disagreement comes as the conflict nears 20 months, with conditions in Gaza worsening. Food shortages and the emotional toll on families of hostages and victims are intensifying the urgency of a resolution.

The Hamas official, who declined to be named due to the sensitivity of the negotiations, said their proposed changes revolve around assurances from the U.S., timelines for releasing hostages, the entry of humanitarian aid, and the pullout of Israeli forces. Specifics were not provided.

A separate statement from Hamas outlined goals of achieving a lasting ceasefire, full withdrawal of Israeli troops, and consistent delivery of aid. As part of a proposed exchange, the group would release 10 living hostages and the remains of 18 others in return for a set number of Palestinian detainees. According to Israeli estimates, 58 hostages remain in Gaza, with 35 believed to be deceased.

The U.S. envoy described the current framework as offering a 60-day ceasefire, during which half of the surviving hostages and half of the deceased would be returned. He encouraged Hamas to accept this as a foundation for further talks, which could begin within days.

Israeli leaders have approved the temporary truce framework, and the U.S. president has stated that negotiations are nearing an agreement.

Meanwhile, another senior Hamas figure accused Israel of backtracking on prior commitments and criticized the mediation process as being biased.

“We just want the bloodshed to stop,” said Motasim, a resident of central Gaza’s Al-Bureij refugee camp. “We’re exhausted.”

Humanitarian Crisis Deepens

On the ground, the humanitarian situation is dire. Dozens of food trucks carrying aid into Gaza were intercepted and stripped of supplies by crowds of hungry civilians. Aid officials reported that 77 trucks, primarily carrying flour, were emptied before they reached distribution points.

One eyewitness in the southern city of Khan Younis described how residents set up roadblocks to stop a convoy, overwhelmed by the sheer desperation caused by a prolonged blockade.

The nearly three-month restriction on aid has brought Gaza’s more than two million people to the edge of famine. While some aid has entered recently, relief agencies say it falls far short of what’s needed.

Officials overseeing aid coordination on the Israeli side stated that nearly 580 trucks entered Gaza over the past week. That’s still far below the roughly 600 trucks per day that were crossing during an earlier ceasefire, before renewed military actions resumed.

Aid organizations warn of extreme hunger. One group said it has enough food for two months—over 140,000 metric tons—ready for delivery, but stressed the need for immediate, large-scale distribution to stabilize the situation.

Security concerns are further complicating aid efforts. Recently, relief groups were forced to use unsafe routes through conflict-prone zones in Rafah and Khan Younis, where vehicles have been stopped by armed groups.

Looting and New Aid Mechanism Create Tension

Internal communications among aid agencies revealed several incidents of looting within just a few days, not including more recent events. Ongoing fighting has made consistent deliveries nearly impossible.

A new aid initiative, established with U.S. and Israeli support, began operating this week. The program, known as the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, has started distributing food through multiple sites under challenging conditions.

Officials backing the program say it is designed to eventually take over the distribution of aid from international organizations. They argue that the change is necessary due to claims that Hamas has been diverting supplies—a charge that aid agencies firmly deny.

The new initiative employs armed contractors to ensure secure distribution, a move that has drawn criticism from humanitarian groups who warn this approach is militarizing aid delivery. On Saturday, the foundation reported distributing 30 truckloads of food, calling it their largest effort to date.