Trump Announces Gaza Deal: 'One of the Great Days Ever in Civilization'

President Donald J. Trump on Monday unveiled a sweeping plan to end the war in Gaza — a framework Israel has agreed to and which the United States says is supported by a number of regional players, including Qatar. The White House published the proposal just ahead of a joint press conference with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, where Mr. Trump framed the plan as a historic step toward “peace in the Middle East.”

“This is a big, big day, a beautiful day,” the president told reporters. “Potentially, one of the great days ever in civilization.” He predicted the deal could mean “peace in the Middle East,” and called the level of regional support he’d mustered “incredible.” The administration says Hamas has not formally accepted the terms yet, though U.S. officials see signs the group may be moving toward agreement.

At the core of the plan is a phased Israeli withdrawal from Gaza, followed by a temporary transitional governance arrangement run by a technocratic Palestinian committee and overseen by an international supervisory body the White House is calling a “Board of Peace.” The plan names President Trump as chair of that board and lists former British prime minister Tony Blair as a board member.

The White House’s outline envisions an economic redevelopment program for Gaza, humanitarian aid resumption, and security guarantees intended to prevent Gaza from again becoming a terror base. International partners would participate in reconstruction and governance oversight while Palestinians would be represented in the transitional committee. Supporters argue the approach ties aid and rehabilitation to de-radicalization and institutional reform.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said at the joint event that the plan meets Israel’s objectives but warned Hamas bluntly: “If Hamas rejects your plan … then Israel will finish the job by itself” of militarily defeating Hamas in Gaza. “This can be done the easy way or it can be done the hard way,” he added. “But it will be done. We prefer the easy way, but it has to be done.”

Administration officials and allied leaders described the framework as conditional and enforceable: an immediate ceasefire and hostage-release sequence are paired with staged Israeli withdrawals and strict disarmament requirements for Hamas. Critics, including many Palestinian activists and some human-rights voices, have already raised objections about excluding Hamas from future governance and about the heavy involvement of foreign overseers in Palestinian affairs.

If Hamas accepts the plan and complies with its terms, Washington and a coalition of regional and international partners say Gaza could be stabilized and rebuilt under strict safeguards. If Hamas rejects it, Mr. Trump and Mr. Netanyahu have both signaled that Israel — with U.S. backing — is prepared to continue military operations to dismantle the terror group’s capabilities.

Whether the plan can be implemented depends on a fraught political reality: getting Hamas to disarm and accept international oversight, securing buy-in from Arab partners, and managing the humanitarian and security logistics of reconstruction. For now, the administration is selling the plan as a bold, enforceable alternative to endless war — and it has put the onus squarely on Hamas to accept peace or face continued force.