World leaders have expressed cautious support for Donald Trump's 20-point plan to end the war in Gaza, but Palestinians remain sceptical about its viability. The plan, announced on Monday by Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, calls for an immediate ceasefire, a hostage-prisoner exchange, a staged Israeli withdrawal, Hamas disarmament, and a transitional government led by an international body.
By Tuesday morning, Netanyahu had already walked back on key clauses, including a commitment that Israel would not occupy Gaza and would withdraw completely. He stated that the army 'will remain in most of Gaza'. Despite this, leaders from Saudi Arabia, Jordan, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Indonesia, Turkey, Pakistan, and Egypt welcomed the plan in principle and expressed readiness to cooperate with Washington.
However, experts and Gaza residents highlighted that Hamas's absence from negotiations and the demand that it renounce governance of the strip raise serious doubts. Ibrahim Joudeh told AFP: 'It's clear that this plan is unrealistic. It's drafted with conditions that the US and Israel know Hamas will never accept.' Another resident, Abu Mazen Nassar, called it 'manipulation', questioning the lack of official guarantees to end the war.
European leaders, including UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer and French President Emmanuel Macron, urged Hamas to accept the plan. Starmer called on the group to 'end the misery', while Macron said Hamas had 'no choice' but to follow it. Spanish and German leaders also backed the proposal, with Chancellor Friedrich Merz calling it the 'best chance' to end the war.
Former US diplomats Brett McGurk and Dan Shapiro described the plan as a 'good deal' and 'credible', respectively, with McGurk stating that 'all international pressure must now come down squarely on Hamas'. The plan includes a transitional authority overseen by a 'board of peace' headed by Trump, which includes former UK Prime Minister Tony Blair—a controversial figure among Palestinians. Mustafa Barghouti of the Palestinian National Initiative said: 'We've been under British colonialism already.'
In Israel, cautious hope emerged. In Tel Aviv, Inbar Hayman said she was optimistic but 'afraid of being disappointed again'. Gal Goren, whose parents were killed in the 7 October attack, expressed a desire for the conflict to end. The Palestinian Authority welcomed Trump's efforts but called for a comprehensive deal based on a two-state solution.
