Trump’s 20-point Gaza peace plan gained Arab backing, but Netanyahu’s decisive intervention ensured Israel’s security needs—keeping the IDF in Gaza and tightening Hamas disarmament terms.
The world celebrated when U.S. President Donald Trump’s 20-point Gaza peace plan was unveiled—endorsed by eight Arab and Muslim states, including Pakistan, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, and Qatar—and welcomed by Israel. But behind the scenes, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu forced decisive last-minute changes, ensuring Israel’s security interests remained intact.
According to reports from Axios, AP, and The Times of Israel, the version of the deal handed to Hamas was not the same one Arab capitals had agreed on. Netanyahu, in direct talks with Trump, successfully secured “significant 11th-hour changes” to two critical clauses:
- IDF Presence in Gaza:
- Original text: Israeli forces would withdraw to the “battle lines” in place when the plan was first presented.
- Revised text: Israeli forces would withdraw only to an “agreed-upon line,” enabling the IDF to remain in most of Gaza even after initial hostage releases, and later to ringfence the Strip even after Hamas’ disarmament and international stabilization forces deploy.
- Hamas Disarmament:
- Netanyahu strengthened language to ensure complete dismantling of Hamas’ military infrastructure, closing loopholes that could have allowed the terror group to rearm.
Qatar, which has hosted Hamas leaders for years, expressed discomfort over the changes, demanding further discussions. Yet the fact remains: Netanyahu’s push guarantees that Israel retains operational control, secures the hostages’ release under stronger terms, and prevents Hamas from using any “peace plan” as a backdoor to regroup.
Trump has given Hamas three to four days to accept or face destruction. Arab and Muslim states may grumble, but the reality is that Israel has turned a dangerous compromise into a security win.
