Netanyahu backs Trump's Gaza plan amid relentless blitz

US President Donald Trump on Monday unveiled a sweeping Gaza peace plan that won the backing of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, even as Israeli strikes continued across the enclave and Hamas signalled it had yet to formally receive the proposal.

The plan, framed by Trump as a turning point in a decades-long conflict, is the most ambitious US diplomatic effort since the war erupted nearly two years ago, but faces steep hurdles before implementation.

Speaking alongside Netanyahu at the White House, Trump outlined a 20-point initiative calling for an immediate ceasefire, the release of hostages held by Hamas in exchange for Palestinian prisoners, staged Israeli withdrawals from Gaza, and the disarmament of Hamas militants.

The blueprint also envisions deployment of a temporary international stabilisation force and the creation of a transitional authority led by Trump himself with the involvement of other foreign leaders.

"This plan is about opening a new chapter of security, peace, and prosperity for the entire region," Trump said. "We are beyond very close to a deal. I believe Hamas will also choose peace."

Netanyahu, who has spent much of the past year vowing to "finish the job" against Hamas, endorsed the framework while insisting Israel would retain overriding security control. "It achieves our war aims," he said. "But if Hamas rejects your plan, Mr. President, or accepts it only to undermine it, then Israel will finish the job by itself."

According to the document circulated to Arab leaders last week, Hamas fighters would be excluded from any future governing role, though those who accepted "peaceful co-existence" would receive amnesty.

Unlike earlier proposals, the plan does not call for Palestinians to leave Gaza. Instead, Trump pledged international aid and investment to rebuild the battered territory once Israeli forces withdraw. "We will encourage people to stay and offer them the opportunity to build a better Gaza," the text said.

Approval, Trump insisted, was within reach: "We are beyond very close." Still, the details remain sketchy, particularly over who would administer Gaza once Hamas is sidelined.

Netanyahu dismissed the possibility of the Palestinian Authority, which governs the West Bank, taking charge. "Gaza will have a peaceful, civilian administration that is run neither by Hamas nor by the Palestinian Authority," he said.

The rollout came during Netanyahu's fourth White House visit since Trump's return to office in January, underscoring both the closeness of the US-Israel relationship and its strains. Trump has voiced frustration with Netanyahu's conduct of the war, including a recent Israeli strike in Qatar that angered Washington.

Trump was also infuriated by Israel's recent strike on Hamas members in key US ally Qatar. However, Netanyahu called Qatar's prime minister from the White House, apologised for strikes against Hamas in the Gulf country and promised not to do so again said.

"As a first step, Prime Minister Netanyahu expressed his deep regret that Israel's missile strike against Hamas targets in Qatar unintentionally killed a Qatari serviceman," a White House statement said. "He further expressed regret that, in targeting Hamas leadership during hostage negotiations, Israel violated Qatari sovereignty and affirmed that Israel will not conduct such an attack again in the future," it said.

Trump also warned the Israeli leader against annexing parts of the occupied West Bank, as demanded by some far-right members of his coalition, calling it a step that would "seriously complicate" the road to peace.

Trump was also irked by Netanyahu's fiery speech to the UN General Assembly last week, where the Israeli prime minister vowed to eradicate Hamas and dismissed Palestinian statehood—an aspiration newly recognised by several Western governments.

The US president, by contrast, sought to position himself as a broker capable of persuading Arab states to endorse an agreement. On social media, he had claimed that "ALL ARE ON BOARD FOR SOMETHING SPECIAL, FIRST TIME EVER."

Even as leaders spoke of peace in Washington, the war raged on in Gaza. Israeli tanks pushed deeper into Gaza City as part of one of the biggest offensives of the conflict. Airstrikes on Khan Yunis killed at least four people, according to the Hamas-run civil defence agency.

The war, triggered by Hamas's October 7, 2023 assault that left 1,219 dead in Israel has exacted a devastating toll on Gaza. Israel's response has killed 66,055 Palestinians, mostly civilians, according to Gaza's health ministry, figures the United Nations deems credible.

Much of the enclave lies in ruins, with international organisations warning of a deepening humanitarian catastrophe. Families of Israeli hostages urged Trump to press for swift implementation of the release provisions.

"We must not miss out on the opportunity to bring back the hostages, safeguard our security and expand the circles of regional normalisation," Israeli opposition lawmaker Benny Gantz posted on X.

For many in Gaza, the announcement was met with a mixture of scepticism and weary hope. "I don't expect anything from Trump, because Trump supports Netanyahu in destroying the Gaza Strip," said Mohammed Abu Rabee, 34, speaking before the White House meeting.

Hamas itself, the central actor in the conflict, offered no immediate endorsement. A Hamas official told reporters the group had not yet received a written copy of Trump's proposal, raising doubts over how soon negotiations could begin.

The White House proposal is the boldest US attempt at brokering a settlement since the conflict began. Trump, who campaigned in 2024 on a pledge to end the war quickly, has repeatedly declared that peace was near - claims that have so far failed to materialise.

His advisers hope that Netanyahu's public endorsement will give momentum to a process that has repeatedly faltered. Arriving at the White House, Netanyahu received a handshake from Trump on the steps—an image meant to contrast with the chilly reception he faced days earlier at the UN, when numerous delegates walked out during his address.

Yet the contradictions remain sharp: Netanyahu continues to promise Hamas's elimination, while Trump presses for compromise. Israel's far-right cabinet members have already criticised the US plan, and Hamas's silence leaves the proposal's viability uncertain.

For now, Trump is betting that fatigue—after nearly two years of bloodshed—will drive both sides toward acceptance. "If we work together, we can bring an end to the death and destruction that we've seen for so many years, decades, even centuries," he said.