President Donald Trump announced that he had secured Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s support for a U.S.-sponsored peace plan aimed at ending the nearly two-year-long war in Gaza.

Axar.az, citing Reuters, reports that the agreement was revealed during a joint press conference at the White House, where Trump declared that the two sides were “beyond very close” to reaching peace.

Netanyahu endorsed the plan, saying it fulfilled Israel’s war objectives: the return of hostages, the dismantling of Hamas’ military power, the end of its political rule, and guarantees that Gaza would never again pose a threat to Israel.

The 20-point U.S. proposal lays out several critical steps. It calls for an immediate ceasefire, followed within 72 hours by a hostage-prisoner exchange in which Hamas would release all remaining captives in exchange for hundreds of Palestinian prisoners held in Israel. The plan also includes a phased Israeli military withdrawal from Gaza, the disarmament of Hamas, and the creation of a transitional governing system.

This system would exclude Hamas and allow only limited representation from the Palestinian Authority, which Netanyahu has opposed controlling Gaza. Instead, the territory’s daily services would be managed by a technocratic Palestinian committee overseen by an international “board of peace” chaired by Trump and joined by figures such as former British Prime Minister Tony Blair.

A central point of contention is the proposal’s vague reference to a future Palestinian state. While the plan suggests the possibility of statehood after Gaza’s redevelopment and reforms within the Palestinian Authority, Netanyahu has repeatedly vowed never to permit it.

This has fueled doubts about the depth of his commitment to the U.S. initiative, though he emphasized that his acceptance was conditional on the plan aligning with Israel’s security requirements.

The role of Hamas remains the most significant challenge. The group, which launched the war with its October 7, 2023 attack that killed 1,200 Israelis and led to 251 hostages being taken, still holds 48 captives, of whom 20 are believed alive.

Hamas has not officially received the peace plan but confirmed that mediators in Qatar and Egypt shared it with them. A Hamas official told Reuters that they would review the proposal “in good faith” before responding. However, Hamas’ refusal to disarm has long been a sticking point in negotiations, raising doubts about whether the plan can succeed.

The Palestinian Authority welcomed Trump’s efforts and reaffirmed its readiness to cooperate with Washington and international partners toward a comprehensive peace.

The Gaza war has exacted a devastating toll. Since October 2023, more than 66,000 Palestinians have been killed in Israel’s offensive, according to Gaza health officials, while vast parts of the enclave lie in ruins. The U.S. plan, drafted with the help of envoy Steve Witkoff and Trump’s former adviser Jared Kushner, envisions stabilization through international cooperation, including a temporary security force supported by Arab and Muslim partners. Trump hailed the agreement with Netanyahu as historic, but with Hamas yet to signal real acceptance, the viability of the peace deal remains uncertain.