Donald Trump’s latest “peace proposal” for Gaza marks the sixteenth such initiative since 1948. Beneath its diplomatic language lies a familiar pattern: promises of stability and reconstruction masking deeper Zionist ambitions.
Trump’s plan envisions turning Gaza into a “peaceful, terror-free” zone focused on rebuilding and economic growth. It calls for an immediate ceasefire, with both sides halting attacks and Israeli forces withdrawing to agreed positions. Within 72 hours, all hostages — alive or deceased — had to be returned. In exchange, Israel would release 250 prisoners serving life sentences and 1,700 Gazans detained after October 7, 2023, including all women and children. For every deceased Israeli hostage returned, Israel would hand over the remains of 15 Gazans.
A temporary administrative committee, composed of Palestinian professionals and international experts, would manage essential services such as water, electricity and healthcare. Oversight would come from a newly formed “Board of Peace", chaired by Donald Trump and including figures like Tony Blair. This Board would ensure governance standards and prepare for the Palestinian Authority to assume leadership. All armed groups must disarm and cease all military operations. Those who comply would receive amnesty, while others could leave their homeland safely. Security would be maintained by a US-led International Stabilisation Force, working alongside Egypt, Jordan and trained Palestinian police. This force would oversee border control, prevent arms smuggling and train local security personnel.
The Zionists would not annex Gaza but would maintain a “temporary” presence until the region stabilises. Humanitarian aid would flow immediately through the United Nations and the Red Crescent. It promises a “new economic vision” for Gaza, featuring international investment, job creation and a special economic zone to encourage trade and development. It even includes a call for interfaith dialogue to foster understanding between Israelis and Palestinians.
While the proposal’s language suggests balance, it only favours Zionist interests. The Palestinians are expected to disarm completely, while Israel retains the right to maintain a “temporary” security presence, an arrangement that history shows becomes permanent. There is no reciprocal requirement for Israel to halt its military operations or dismantle settlements or disarm. The plan demands Palestinian compliance without offering guarantees of sovereignty or protection. The release of 1,700 women and children from Israeli prisons highlights another grim reality: the long-standing detention of Palestinians, many without trial. Yet the plan treats their release as a concession rather than a correction of injustice.
Moreover, while it specifies prisoner exchanges for deceased Israeli hostages, it omits any mechanism for accountability regarding Zionist genocide. Trump’s plan is less about peace and more about political theatre. It allows both Trump and Netanyahu to project an image of leadership while avoiding the core issues of illegal occupation and Palestinian statehood. Netanyahu, embattled by domestic challenges, gains international cover and time to pursue his government’s broader territorial ambitions.
Trump, meanwhile, positions himself as a global dealmaker. The plan’s structure mirrors earlier “peace” initiatives that sought to conquer rather than resolve. Each condition has demanded Palestinian concessions while rewarding Israeli expansion. This latest version, despite its polished presentation, continues that legacy. It offers Palestinians no genuine sovereignty and no political freedom. Trump’s Gaza peace proposal, presented as a road map to stability, is in reality a carefully staged performance. It promises humanitarian relief and reconstruction, but entrenches illegal Zionist occupation of Palestinian territory. By demanding Palestinian disarmament without ensuring their protection, it perpetuates the cycle of occupation under the guise of peace. As with so many plans before it, this one will not end the conflict. The conflict will only end when Palestine is free.
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