On October 23, 2025, the future of Gaza—and the prospects for peace in the region—hung in the balance as the Trump administration’s ambitious 20-point Gaza plan faced mounting challenges from all sides. Israeli leaders, American officials, and regional actors each jostled for influence, even as the ceasefire that followed years of conflict between Israel and Hamas showed signs of unraveling just weeks after its much-heralded announcement in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt.
Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar didn’t mince words when he reaffirmed Israel’s commitment to the Trump plan. "Israel is committed to working toward the success of the Trump plan for Gaza," Saar stated, according to Reuters, insisting that peace could only take root if Hamas and Islamic Jihad first laid down their arms. For Saar and much of the Israeli establishment, the demilitarization of Gaza’s ruling factions remains non-negotiable. But as events have unfolded, that demand has proven to be a far taller order than any of the plan’s architects might have hoped.
The Trump administration’s peace initiative, signed less than two weeks ago, was initially met with cautious optimism. The agreement secured the release of detainees and hostages on both sides, a rare breakthrough after two years of bitter fighting. But almost immediately, cracks began to show. According to The National Interest, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has worked behind the scenes to undermine the ceasefire, reportedly seeking to maintain Israeli control over large swathes of Gaza and shore up his own political position amid ongoing turmoil at home.
Both Israel and Hamas have continued to pursue their interests with little regard for the spirit of the agreement. As The National Interest detailed, Hamas is attempting to regain control over areas vacated by the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), while Israel continues to bomb targets in Gaza and restrict humanitarian aid and medical evacuations. The Israeli government has even been accused of backing anti-Hamas militias within Gaza, which have reportedly ransacked aid convoys and disrupted the delivery of crucial supplies to civilians—actions that have only deepened the humanitarian crisis and further complicated ceasefire negotiations.
Meanwhile, the Trump administration has gone to great lengths to keep the peace plan afloat. High-profile visits by Vice President JD Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, special envoy Steve Witkoff, and former White House advisor Jared Kushner underscore the urgency with which Washington is treating the situation. Vance, speaking at a press conference in Tel Aviv, described Gaza as "divided between two zones—one relatively safe and one extremely dangerous." The administration’s postwar blueprint, as reported by i24NEWS and The Wall Street Journal, would divide the territory into "safe zones" and "restricted zones," with reconstruction efforts limited to areas under Israeli control—currently about 53% of Gaza.
The plan, still in its preliminary stages, envisions a gradual expansion of these safe zones as Hamas is disarmed and removed from power. Kushner emphasized that "no reconstruction funding would be directed to areas still controlled by Hamas," insisting that "as long as the IDF can secure the area, the construction of the new Gaza must begin, to give Palestinians a place to live, work, and rebuild their lives." Israel has agreed to these terms in principle, provided that rebuilding occurs only "beyond the Yellow Line," a military demarcation separating Israeli-secured zones, and that no hostile actors are involved.
But the proposal has drawn sharp criticism from Arab governments and international mediators. Many warn that dividing Gaza into zones could entrench Israel’s presence in the enclave and undermine prospects for a unified Palestinian state. According to The Wall Street Journal, several regional diplomats expressed concern that the plan was formulated without meaningful Arab input, making it unlikely that Arab states would contribute peacekeeping troops or reconstruction aid under the current terms. The plan’s focus on demilitarizing Hamas and establishing a technocratic Palestinian authority supported by an international force remains a point of contention, with many details—governance, borders, oversight—still unresolved.
Within Israel, voices like Likud lawmaker Dan Illouz have expressed both optimism and caution. Speaking to JNS, Illouz said, "Trump’s plan for Gaza has a lot of potential," crediting the close cooperation with the Americans for many of Israel’s accomplishments over the past two years, including the return of abducted soldiers and the maintenance of a defensive perimeter inside Gaza. Yet, Illouz was quick to acknowledge the risks: "Hamas continues to control about 50% of Gaza. While there is widespread international support for disarming the group, it’s still not happening—and that’s cause for concern." He also flagged Turkey’s involvement as a potential threat, noting President Erdogan’s ideological alignment with Hamas despite his public pledges to help disarm the group.
Illouz’s comments reflect a broader Israeli sentiment—one of gratitude for Trump’s support, especially for the release of hostages, but also an understanding that American interests will always come first. "At the end of the day, as great a friend as Trump is to Israel, we understand that his first responsibility is to America’s interests—just as ours must always be to Israel’s," Illouz remarked. This delicate balancing act between alliance and autonomy is echoed in ongoing debates about Israeli sovereignty in the West Bank and the enlistment of ultra-Orthodox youth into the military, issues that continue to stir political tensions within the country.
The peace plan’s fate is further complicated by the realities on the ground. As The National Interest warned, the ongoing clashes and the failure to disarm Hamas may deter international actors from contributing to the "temporary International Stabilization Force" envisioned in the plan. Without such a force, Israel could argue that it has no choice but to maintain a military occupation of Gaza, potentially reigniting large-scale conflict and dashing hopes for a lasting settlement.
For the Trump administration, the stakes are high. Having invested significant diplomatic capital in the plan, a collapse of the ceasefire would be a major embarrassment—one that President Trump, known for his desire for quick policy wins, is unlikely to accept lightly. Yet, as events unfold, the administration’s ability to enforce compliance among its allies is being put to the test. The question remains: Can Washington bring enough pressure to bear on Jerusalem to keep the peace process alive, or will the historic opportunity slip away amid familiar patterns of mistrust and violence?
As regional actors, international mediators, and the people of Gaza watch and wait, the outcome of the Trump plan will shape the future of the Middle East for years to come. The coming weeks promise to be decisive, and the world is watching closely to see whether this latest bid for peace can survive the storms of politics, power, and history.
