IAS/UPSC Coaching Institute  

04 Oct 2025 : Peace mirage

 Editorial 2: ​​Peace mirage

Context

Trump proposal largely advances Israel’s objectives but provides limited benefits for Palestinians.

 

Introduction

President Trump’s 20-point peace plan for Gaza has gained rare support from Israel and key Arab nations, yet it notably excludes Palestinian representatives. While promising a ceasefire and hostage release, the plan is largely structured to serve Israeli interests, raising questions about its feasibility, fairness, and the potential to achieve lasting peace in the Gaza conflict.

Approval and Missing Palestinian Voice

  • Trump’s 20-point peace plan has received rare support from Israel and key Arab countries.
  • Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu claims it aligns with Israel’s war objectives.
  • Arab and Muslim leaders welcome it as a potential step towards peace.
  • Critically, the Palestinian perspective is absent; no representative of the Palestinian people has been included.
  • Gaza war context: Following Hamas’s October 7, 2023 attack, Israel pledged to “destroy” the group, leaving Gaza devastated and its population displaced.

Ceasefire and Conditional Concessions

  • The plan promises an immediate ceasefire in exchange for the release of all hostages.
  • Palestinians will not be forced to leave, providing relief to those in makeshift shelters.
  • Hamas ultimatum: Accept the plan or face continued Israeli attacks.
  • Despite these concessions, the plan primarily serves Israeli interests, not Palestinian needs.

Structure and Control of Gaza

  • Proposal suggests placing Gaza under international governance, led by a ‘Board of Peace’ chaired by Trump.
  • Calls for an International Stabilisation Force (ISF) while allowing Israeli troops to maintain a security perimeter.
  • Hamas must demobilise, and Palestinians excluded from top decision-making until Palestinian Authority reforms are completed.
  • Essentially, Gaza would be under a colonial-style administration with a foreign military presence, while Israel retains partial occupation.

Limitations and Risks

  • The plan provides no clear timeline for its goals.
  • It lacks clarity on which countries will contribute troops to the ISF.
  • Oversight of implementation and Palestinian Authority reforms remain unspecified.
  • Even if Hamas disbands or Palestinians reject it, resistance and violence may continue.
  • Rather than ending hostilities, the plan risks complicating the conflict and could entangle Trump further in West Asia’s quagmire.

 

Conclusion

Despite offering a ceasefire and temporary relief to Palestinians, the plan primarily advances Israeli objectives. Its lack of a timeline, unclear international oversight, and exclusion of Palestinian decision-making make it unlikely to resolve the conflict. Without a credible pathway to statehood, resistance and violence may persist, potentially entangling Trump further in West Asia’s complex conflict dynamics.