Less than two weeks have passed since Israeli Prime Minister Binnyamin Netanyahu visited the White House and Donald Trump's plan for peace in the Gaza Strip is beginning to materialize. The US President announced Wednesday night that Israel and Hamas have accepted the first phase of his peace plan. We present this plan point by point.
Donald Trump's peace plan for the Gaza Strip was released in late September. It contained 20 points that are ultimately intended to lead to lasting peace and long-term tranquility in this region of the world. Trump's proposalis, of course, subject to negotiation, although in its initial form it was well-received by various international actors.
Trump's peace plan. What's in the first phase?
But what does this breakthrough entail, and what will happen in the first phase of the peace plan? After two years of intense conflict, Israel and Hamas have announced they are willing to make concessions and seek a ceasefire.
The first stage of the plan calls for: a cessation of hostages, the release of all hostages, and the withdrawal of Israeli troops (at least part of them) from the Gaza Strip. In return, Israel is to release 250 Palestinians sentenced to life imprisonment and 1,700 Gazans detained after the outbreak of the war. Israel, in turn, demands the release of all surviving hostages (according to local media, 20 people) as well as the dead (according to media, 26 people). The plan also calls for increased humanitarian aid.
And although this is only the first stage, it too is divided into specific elements. The ceasefire is expected to take place on Thursday. Hamas will also have 72 hours to release all hostages. This will happen no later than Monday. Both sides are appealing to the international community to ensure compliance with the terms of this agreement.
Disarming Hamas is a significant challenge. The plan assumes that Hamas members who surrender, lay down their weapons, and accept peace agreements will be offered amnesty, allowing them to safely leave the Gaza Strip. However, it remains unclear what will happen to those who do not accept peace.
The plan calls for the elimination of weapons and ammunition factories, as well as infrastructure used by terrorists. Other Arab states are to provide support to the Americans. The Gaza Strip, meanwhile, is to receive immediate support for its key infrastructure.
This includes water, food, electricity and medicines - increased supplies are to start immediately after the agreement is signed.
Peace in Gaza? Tony Balir's Role
In fact, the most controversial element of the peace plan is the next element. Gaza is to be governed by the so-called"Peace Council", headed by none other than Donald Trump. This is to be a temporary, apolitical committee that will manage the region during the transition period.
Trump is being aided in this matter by… Tony Blair. The internationally renowned former British Prime Minister is responsible for recruiting and overseeing the new Palestinian administration. He is tasked with laying the foundations for future Palestinian political personnel, who will likely advocate a pro-Western course. Jobs are crucial to Trump's vision, so the new administration is expected to draw on international expertise and experience to make Gaza a place worth living in in the future. However, before then, the International Stabilization Force (ISF) will be responsible for maintaining order and security in the Gaza Strip.
The reconstruction of Palestine will, of course, take place under the watchful eye of the US, although the plan is for the UN and other humanitarian organizations to control most of the peacekeeping operations and subsequent reconstruction.
That's the outline and main assumptions of the plan. As mentioned at the beginning, it is more of a vision and a starting point for discussion. Moreover, negotiators from Qatar and Egypt have already pointed out that the plan is imprecise in many places and it is worth establishing and recording specifics at each stage, such as the timetable for the withdrawal of Israeli troops.
Elsewhere, for example, detailed conditions regarding the creation (or otherwise) of a potential Palestinian state are missing. Negotiators will still have a lot of work to do to clarify all the sensitive issues.
Łukasz Szpyrka
