Washington unveils uncompromising Gaza roadmap, sidelining terror networks while securing hostages and regional stability.
Speaking before the UN Security Council, US Ambassador Mike Waltz laid out what he described as a decisive turning point for the Middle East under President Trump’s 20-Point Peace Plan — a framework built on security first, reconstruction second, and zero tolerance for terror.
Waltz reminded the chamber that only months ago Gaza was under the brutal grip of Hamas, which he accused of exploiting civilians, weaponizing suffering, and diverting resources into tunnels and military infrastructure instead of rebuilding communities. He emphasized that the return of hostages and the reduction in hostilities marked a critical breakthrough — but insisted that lasting peace hinges on the total disarmament of Hamas.
According to Waltz, humanitarian access has significantly expanded since the ceasefire’s implementation in October, with aid deliveries exceeding the UN benchmark of 4,200 trucks per week. He framed this surge not as a concession to militants, but as proof that security coordination and firm political leadership can coexist with humanitarian responsibility.
Phase Two: Security and Governance Reset
Waltz introduced “Phase Two” of the initiative — a comprehensive security and governance overhaul. An International Stabilization Force will oversee peace enforcement and eliminate terror infrastructure, while the National Committee for the Administration of Gaza (NCAG) will restore essential services and build a productive civilian economy under the supervision of the Board of Peace.
The Board — comprising 27 nations, including several Gulf and Muslim-majority states — is set to convene in Washington with more than $5 billion pledged for reconstruction. However, Waltz made clear that funding is conditional: no rebuilding will occur unless Hamas’ military capabilities, tunnels, weapons production sites, and command structures are dismantled permanently.
Rejecting critics who labeled the Board unconventional, Waltz argued that previous diplomatic frameworks failed because they tolerated ambiguity around terror groups. “The old ways were not working,” he declared, presenting the initiative as a necessary departure from ineffective cycles of ceasefire and rearmament.
A Demilitarized Future
Closing his address, Waltz vowed that Gaza must be fully demilitarized and deradicalized, promising that under the new doctrine there would be no repeat of the October 7 attacks. The message was unequivocal: reconstruction is tied to security, and peace will not coexist with armed extremism.
The proposed framework signals a strategic recalibration — combining regional partnerships, financial commitments, and uncompromising security demands — aimed at forging what Washington calls a durable era of stability and opportunity across the Middle East.
