This op-ed was originally published at The New Arab​​

​President Trump’s ’20 Point Peace Plan’ presents Hamas with a stark dilemma: disband, disarm, and accept governance of the Gaza Strip by a ‘Board of Peace’, or face unlimited US support for Israel to ‘finish the job’. With 72 hours to respond, this ultimatum represents a gamble: can deadline diplomacy break a two-year deadlock, or will fundamental flaws doom it to join the graveyard of failed initiatives?

The Trump plan demands the release of all Israeli hostages, alive or deceased, in exchange for the release of 1,700 Palestinians—a fraction of those abducted from Gaza since October 7, 2023. It also stipulates that Hamas disband and disarm, upon which the Rafah crossing will be reopened and full humanitarian aid sent into the Gaza Strip.

What is Trump proposing?

Under its terms, Gaza’s governance would be placed in the hands of Trump’s newly formed ‘Board of Peace’, which he will lead with the support of Tony Blair. The board is tasked with setting the framework for Gaza’s reconstruction, and will oversee a temporary transitional government of Palestinians and international experts who will deliver ‘the day-to-day running of public services and municipalities’.

The IDF would gradually hand over all occupied territory to a so-called ‘International Stabilization Force’, which will train and support ‘vetted Palestinian police forces’ to maintain internal security....​​