ALWAGHT- The Wall Street Journal reports that “Israel” advocated for changes in Trump’s Gaza plan to better reflect its own interests.
The Wall Street Journal reported that “Israel” played a key role in shaping US President Donald Trump’s Gaza settlement plan, pushing for amendments that aligned with its interests. The finalized 20-point plan was presented to Hamas through mediators Egypt and Qatar, with the movement indicating it would review the proposal before issuing a formal response.
Trump’s plan calls for an immediate ceasefire and the release of captives within 72 hours, including 250 Palestinians serving life sentences and over 1,700 others detained since October 7, 2023. It proposes suspending all military operations, transferring Gaza governance to a technocratic Palestinian committee supervised by an international body led by Trump, and eventually handing authority to the Palestinian Authority after a series of reforms.
The proposal envisions Gaza as a “deradicalized, terror-free zone,” with Israeli forces gradually withdrawing based on demilitarization milestones. Trump has promoted economic redevelopment of the area, dubbing it the “Riviera of the Middle East.” While the plan references Palestinian self-determination, it stops short of guaranteeing a sovereign state. Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu welcomed the initiative, though internal divisions remain over the role of the Palestinian Authority.
Responses from Palestinian and Arab actors have been mixed. Hamas is cautiously reviewing the plan, emphasizing that Palestinian rights and sovereignty must remain central, while Palestinian Islamic Jihad outright rejected it as an extension of Israeli-American interests. Displaced Gazans expressed skepticism, Saudi Arabia stressed the need for a clear path to a two-state solution, and Egypt and Qatar continue mediating to prevent further escalation.