The Gaza peace plan, officially the Comprehensive Plan to End the Gaza Conflict, is a multilateral agreement between Israel and Hamas that aims to address the ongoing Gaza war and broader Middle Eastern crisis. Led by United States president Donald Trump, it was negotiated in consultation with many Arab and Muslim countries. The plan was announced by Trump on September 29, 2025, during a press conference at the White House alongside Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu. It was signed on October 9, coming into effect the following day, and was endorsed by the United Nations Security Council on November 17.
After the 2005 Israeli disengagement from the Gaza Strip, Hamas won elections in 2006 and formed a government, first alone and then in a grand coalition with Fatah, but later seized Gaza in 2007. Since then, repeated clashes with Israel have escalated into major conflicts, culminating in the October 7 attacks by Hamas in 2023, which triggered a large-scale Israeli military campaign and genocide in Gaza. Interim ceasefires in late 2023 and early 2025 collapsed.
The Gaza peace plan calls for an immediate ceasefire, the return of all hostages, prisoner exchanges, the demilitarization of the Gaza Strip, the deployment of the International Stabilization Force, transitional governance by Palestinian technocrats under international supervision, large-scale reconstruction, and a conditional pathway toward acceptance of Palestinian self-determination and recognition of Palestinian statehood. The plan was met with support from many countries around the world, including France, Germany, Russia, Italy, Spain, the United Arab Emirates, Egypt, Turkey, Qatar, Jordan, Indonesia, Pakistan, Canada, and the United Kingdom. The State of Palestine was not involved in the negotiations, although the governing Palestinian Authority expressed support for the deal. Prior to Trump's announcement of the plan, Hamas has maintained that it will not disarm without the establishment of an independent Palestinian state. Upon revealing the peace proposal, Trump gave Hamas a deadline of October 5, 2025, to accept. On October 3, in response to the proposal, Hamas agreed to release any remaining hostages in Gaza and to "hand over the administration of the Gaza Strip to a Palestinian body of independent technocrats", though it did not agree to disarm or to forgo influence in Gaza. Analysts have stated that Hamas is not likely to hand over weapons as long as there is no guarantee of Israeli withdrawal from Gaza.
On October 8, Trump announced that Israel and Hamas had reached an agreement to begin the first phase of the deal. Under this phase, all living hostages were to be released in exchange for 2,000 Palestinian prisoners, including 250 serving life sentences, within 72 hours of the withdrawal of Israeli forces to pre-designated lines within the Gaza Strip. The ceasefire went into effect on October 10, though there have been numerous attacks since, including the killing of more than 1,060 Palestinians by Israel. The commencement of the second phase of the plan was announced by US Special Envoy Steve Witkoff on 14 January 2026, but as of May 2026, negotiations have remained stalled due to repeated Israeli attacks since the October ceasefire and disagreements over the plan of Hamas disarmament. Israel stated they will not move forward if they do not see progress on disarmament. Hamas had stated that it will not discuss the second phase of the agreement, which includes disarmament, until Israel fully implements the first phase. On 6 July, Hamas announced the resignation of its civil administration under the Gaza peace plan, breaking the limbo that had existed since January 2026. Since the ceasefire was established, 1,145 Palestinians and 7 Israeli soldiers have been killed.
Background
Background to and beginning of the Gaza war
As part of the Israeli–Palestinian conflict, Gaza has been occupied by Israel since 1967 along with the West Bank and East Jerusalem. The International Court of Justice has ruled the occupation of Palestinian territory is illegal under international law. Following the 2005 Israeli disengagement from the Gaza Strip, control of the area was transferred to the Palestinian Authority (PA). Hamas, a Palestinian nationalist Islamist political and militant group, won the majority of seats in the Palestinian legislative election in January 2006. Israel frequently instated blockades on imports of goods to Gaza in 2006, including before and during the election;The Gaza Strip: February Access Report. Closure at Karni Crossing United Nations. Retrieved December 10, 2022 while a blockade on exports cut off Gaza's existing industries (textiles, furniture, greenhouse berry farming) from foreign markets. The blockade was tightened after Hamas captured Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit in June 2006.
Hamas formed a government, first alone (early 2006) and then in a grand coalition with Fatah (March 2007) while still being the majority party. In a battle in June 2007, Hamas ousted the remaining Fatah officials and took sole control of the Gaza Strip. Meanwhile, in the West Bank, PA President Mahmoud Abbas (of Fatah) officially dismissed the government and, by a decree, formed a new one which did not include Hamas; this government was recognized by Israel as representing the PA. Hamas's takeover led Israel and Egypt to impose a blockade on Gaza, also in response to the thousands of rockets and mortar Hamas fired into Israeli territory; the number of munitions fired by Israel on Gaza remained consistently higher in 2006 than the number of munitions fired from Gaza on Israeli territory. Over the years, Israel and Hamas have engaged in several conflicts, including in 2006, 2008-2009, 2012, 2014 and 2021 (of which at least the first three were prompted by Israel either assassinating a Palestinian militant leader in Gaza or sending foot soldiers into Gaza); during these conflicts Hamas intensified its rocket attacks against Israel, and Israel attacked the Gaza Strip with aerial bombing and artillery shelling.
In October 2023, Hamas launched the October 7 attacks infiltrating Israel from Gaza via multiple routes. The attack began with thousands of rockets fired into Israel and was followed by massacres in multiple border towns, kibbutzim and at the Nova music festival. The attack killed 1,195 people, mostly civilians. Hamas militants also took around 251 hostages and captives. The assault prompted significant Israeli military retaliation, escalating into the Gaza war, which involved a large-scale invasion and bombardment of the Gaza Strip by the Israel Defense Forces (IDF). More than 68,000 Palestinians have been killed in the conflict, mostly civilians. A wide scholarly consensus has concluded that Israel's conduct during the war amounts to genocide in Gaza.
November 2023 ceasefire
On November 24, 2023, after a long fighting period between Israel and Hamas, a ceasefire was achieved due to efforts of Qatar, Egypt, and the United States. At first the ceasefire was meant to last 4 days with the release of 50 Israeli hostages and 150 Palestinian prisoners, while more humanitarian aid was sent into Gaza. The ceasefire was extended twice based on further hostage releases but ultimately ended on December 1 after both sides accused each other of violations.
January 2025: second ceasefire starts
On January 19, 2025, another ceasefire between Israel and Hamas began, after an agreement reached on January 15 following months of negotiation mediated once again by the United States, Qatar, and Egypt. The ceasefire had three stages; the first stage saw the release of 33 Israeli hostages in exchange for about 1,900 Palestinian prisoners. During that time Israeli troops withdrew from populated areas in Gaza, while humanitarian aid was sent in along with displaced Palestinians returning home. During the first stage of the ceasefire, talks were supposed to begin between both parties about the specifics of a more permanent cessation of hostilities in the second and third stages. In the second stage, all living hostages would have been released by Hamas, and Israel would have released more Palestinian prisoners and completely withdraw its forces from Gaza. The third stage would involve, among others, an exchange of the bodies of dead hostages for the bodies of dead Palestinians.
The terms of the second and third stage were written into the agreement, but the agreement nevertheless said that talks will continue on the details of the second and third stage.
Hamas wanted the agreement to guarantee that the second and third stage will actually happen; and that, until then, the initial ceasefire will remain in force. Israel wanted the agreement to say that mediators (but not necessarily Hamas or Israel) will make every effort that talks about the details of the second and third stage will continue; in case they do not continue, the initial ceasefire, and all other terms of the first stage, would automatically expire after six weeks.
According to information about the contents of the January 2025 agreement published by the Israeli media, the final text of the agreement was based on the Israeli proposal, including the mechanism allowing the ceasefire to expire. This led pro-Israeli commenters to argue that Israel did not violate the ceasefire when it resumed the war in March 2025.
On January 20, 2025, U.S. President Joe Biden's presidential term ended, and he left completion of the ceasefire agreement in the hands of his successor, Donald Trump. Both Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu lead political parties described as right-wing, and though the two leaders had disagreements, Trump was seen at the time as more likely to favor Israel and give it permission to do as it pleased with Palestinian territory.
February 2025 Gaza Strip proposal
March 2025: second ceasefire collapses After completion of the agreement's first phase, Israel proposed extending the first stage. Hamas rejected this saying the ceasefire should proceed to the second phase as originally agreed. On March 18, 2025, Israel launched a surprise attack on the Gaza Strip, ending the ceasefire. The United States and Israel blamed Hamas for the collapse of the ceasefire by refusing to release additional hostages while Hamas accused Israel of causing the collapse of the ceasefire.
September 2025 proposal and subsequent statements
At the White House press conference on September 29, 2025, U.S. president Donald Trump stated that the United States would play an active role in ensuring Israel's security following a new ceasefire agreement. He emphasized that if Hamas accepted the deal, all hostages, both living and deceased, would be released almost immediately. Trump also expressed his intention to end the war and noted that he was "hearing that Hamas wants to get this done".
Trump stated that Israel withdrew from Gaza in 2005 in an effort to promote peace, stating, "They said, You take it. This is our contribution to peace. But that didn't work out." Trump further mentioned that during his meeting with Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Netanyahu had clearly opposed the establishment of a Palestinian state and criticized other countries that had "foolishly" recognized one. He added that Israel and other nations were "beyond very close" to reaching a deal to end the war, thanking Netanyahu for his efforts. Trump reiterated that the agreement would involve Arab countries and could lead to broader peace in the Middle East.