FT: Trump unveils Gaza peace plan to Arab, Muslim leaders at UN meetings

US President Donald Trump has presented a new peace initiative for Gaza to Arab and Muslim leaders on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly, proposing a permanent ceasefire, the release of hostages, and the deployment of an international stabilisation force in the war-torn enclave.

The proposal, referred to as the “Trump 21-point plan for peace in the Mideast and Gaza,” was revealed during a high-level meeting on September 23 that included officials and leaders from Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Egypt, Jordan, Qatar, Türkiye, and Indonesia, Caliber.Az reports via The Financial Times. 

The plan builds on a previous ceasefire framework developed by Trump’s envoy, Steve Witkoff, and outlines a postwar governance and security structure for Gaza.

According to individuals briefed on the plan, it envisions the creation of an international supervisory body that would oversee a Palestinian committee responsible for administering Gaza on an interim basis.

Israeli forces, under the proposal, would withdraw fully from the strip once a stabilisation force—composed of troops from Arab and Muslim states—is deployed. Israeli troops would first redeploy to positions held during a temporary ceasefire from January to March 2024.

The plan explicitly excludes Hamas from any future role in Gaza’s governance and stipulates that there must be no forced displacement of Palestinian civilians. It also calls for the immediate and complete release of all remaining hostages held by Hamas—approximately 20 individuals believed to be alive—as part of a permanent ceasefire agreement.

“The Trump 21-point plan for peace in the Mideast and Gaza... I think it addresses Israeli concerns and, as well, the concerns of all the neighbours in the region,” Witkoff said during a speech at the Concordia Summit in New York on September 24. “We’re hopeful and, I might say, even confident that in the coming days we’ll be able to announce some sort of breakthrough.”

The Palestinian Authority (PA), which currently holds limited administrative control in the occupied West Bank, would play a role in the transitional governance of Gaza. Arab and Muslim leaders reportedly responded positively to the plan, but many expressed a desire to see the PA’s role expanded to lend legitimacy to the initiative among Palestinians.

However, the inclusion of the PA remains a sticking point. While Arab and European countries have long insisted that the PA must be involved in postwar governance, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has repeatedly ruled out any PA involvement in Gaza, citing concerns over security and political alignment. His far-right coalition partners strongly oppose any Palestinian body taking control of the strip.

The question of which Arab or Muslim nations would be willing to commit troops to a stabilisation force also remains unresolved, with some governments concerned about the political and security risks of being seen as collaborating with Israel or becoming entangled in a prolonged insurgency.

Trump is expected to meet Netanyahu in Washington on September 29 to discuss the proposal further. The Israeli leader, speaking before departing for the U.S., reiterated his government’s commitment to continuing the war against Hamas.

“We need to complete the goals of the war,” Netanyahu said. “To secure the return of all remaining hostages and to defeat Hamas.”

By Sabina Mammadli