US President Donald Trump’s 20-point plan to end the war in Gaza is currently being discussed by American, Israeli, and Hamas delegations in the Egyptian resort city of Sharm El-Sheikh.
High-level mediators are joining the Gaza talks this week, including Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, Turkish intelligence chief Ibrahim Kalin, and US Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff.
Trump expressed optimism from Washington, saying, “I think there’s a possibility that we could have peace in the Middle East… We want a release of the hostages immediately.” He affirmed that the United States would do “everything possible” to ensure compliance with any ceasefire terms, reports dw.com
Trump’s proposal explicitly states that Israel must not occupy or annex Gaza, while a temporary International Stabilization Force—backed by the US and Arab partners—would be deployed to maintain order. Jordan and Egypt would play a key role in vetting and training Palestinian police forces to ensure long-term security in the territory.
The ambitious proposal envisions Gaza transformed into a “de-radicalized zone” that no longer poses a threat to its neighbors, while also laying out detailed mechanisms for security, governance, and humanitarian recovery. At the heart of the plan is the creation of a “technocratic, apolitical Palestinian committee” to govern Gaza, effectively removing Hamas from power.
According to reports from the Associated Press, Hamas has demanded firm security guarantees to ensure that Israel will not resume military operations once the group releases hostages.
The plan provides for a mutual exchange: the release of Palestinian prisoners held in Israeli jails in return for the release of Israeli hostages currently detained in Gaza. US officials, citing Reuters, emphasized that the immediate priority remains achieving a ceasefire and organizing the logistics of freeing hostages. Hamas is believed to be holding 48 Israeli captives, with fewer than half still thought to be alive.
Among the key provisions of Trump’s 20-point plan are the release of all Israeli hostages, the withdrawal of Israeli troops to a designated buffer zone, expanded humanitarian aid deliveries to Palestinians, and the formation of an interim Gaza government led by former British Prime Minister Tony Blair. If implemented, the plan could mark the most significant US-led diplomatic intervention in the conflict in years—potentially reshaping the political landscape of Gaza and the wider Middle East.
Hamas has submitted lists of both Israeli hostages and Palestinian prisoners proposed for exchange. In a statement, the group said mediators were making “significant efforts to remove any obstacles” to a ceasefire, noting a “spirit of optimism” among participants. However, Hamas continues to insist that any final agreement must include a complete withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza.
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