The Main Thing Is That the War Stops
Yes, the peace plan for Gaza has many weaknesses and holes in it, but the important thing is that Hamas agrees to it and the plan becomes reality.*
It's the most reasonable draft of a peace plan for the Gaza Strip that has come from U.S. President Donald Trump. There is no call for expelling Palestinians or settlement by Israel. Instead, it calls for a gradual withdrawal of the Israeli military and for international protection.
It is clear that expectations for a peace plan for Gaza are not especially high at the moment. There is much that can be criticized about this plan, which Trump discussed with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu: For example, the fact that control of the Gaza Strip will lie with Trump himself to begin with. Trump will chair the "Peace Council," which will oversee the transitional government of the Gaza Strip. Or that the wording of when the Palestinian Authority could take control of the Gaza Strip is incredibly vague. Also that Hamas members who surrender their weapons should simply be granted amnesty. Apparently regardless of whatever crimes they may have committed against Israelis or their own people.
But all of this takes a back seat to the situation in the Gaza Strip. Palestinians are now only allowed to stay in less than a third of the territory there. People are being killed during air strikes on a daily basis.
The food supply has improved, but there is a shortage of medicine and medical supplies, tents and shelter, clean water and hygiene. Daily survival in the Gaza Strip remains a horror show — for Palestinian civilians, and also for the remaining hostages.
It almost doesn't matter what's stated in the ceasefire deal. The important thing is that the war ends. To achieve this, massive pressure must be put on Hamas. It is hoped that Qatar, after a phone call with Netanyahu on Monday in which he apologized for the air strikes on Hamas targets in Doha in mid-September, will give its full support to Trump's plan.
If Hamas rejects the plan, it would be doing the far-right section of the Israeli government a big favor. During his press conference with Trump, Netanyahu said, "But if Hamas rejects your plan, Mr. President, or if they supposedly accept it and then basically do everything to counter it, then Israel will finish the job by itself. This can be done the easy way, or it can be done the hard way. But it will be done." And because Trump's plan explicitly forbids expulsion, which is demanded by one of Netanyahu's coalition partners, this would probably be the better option for Netanyahu, from the point of view of domestic politics. At the same time, Germany must also put pressure on Israel.
This peace plan is a chance — maybe the last chance. To screw it up would be fatal.
*Editor’s Note: On Oct. 9, 2025, Hamas and Israeli agreed to the first phase of a ceasefire and hostage release plan, laying the groundwork for an end to the conflict.
It's the most reasonable draft of a peace plan for the Gaza Strip that has come from U.S. President Donald Trump. There is no call for expelling Palestinians or settlement by Israel. Instead, it calls for a gradual withdrawal of the Israeli military and for international protection.
It is clear that expectations for a peace plan for Gaza are not especially high at the moment. There is much that can be criticized about this plan, which Trump discussed with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu: For example, the fact that control of the Gaza Strip will lie with Trump himself to begin with. Trump will chair the "Peace Council," which will oversee the transitional government of the Gaza Strip. Or that the wording of when the Palestinian Authority could take control of the Gaza Strip is incredibly vague. Also that Hamas members who surrender their weapons should simply be granted amnesty. Apparently regardless of whatever crimes they may have committed against Israelis or their own people.
But all of this takes a back seat to the situation in the Gaza Strip. Palestinians are now only allowed to stay in less than a third of the territory there. People are being killed during air strikes on a daily basis.
The food supply has improved, but there is a shortage of medicine and medical supplies, tents and shelter, clean water and hygiene. Daily survival in the Gaza Strip remains a horror show — for Palestinian civilians, and also for the remaining hostages.
It almost doesn't matter what's stated in the ceasefire deal. The important thing is that the war ends. To achieve this, massive pressure must be put on Hamas. It is hoped that Qatar, after a phone call with Netanyahu on Monday in which he apologized for the air strikes on Hamas targets in Doha in mid-September, will give its full support to Trump's plan.
If Hamas rejects the plan, it would be doing the far-right section of the Israeli government a big favor. During his press conference with Trump, Netanyahu said, "But if Hamas rejects your plan, Mr. President, or if they supposedly accept it and then basically do everything to counter it, then Israel will finish the job by itself. This can be done the easy way, or it can be done the hard way. But it will be done." And because Trump's plan explicitly forbids expulsion, which is demanded by one of Netanyahu's coalition partners, this would probably be the better option for Netanyahu, from the point of view of domestic politics. At the same time, Germany must also put pressure on Israel.
This peace plan is a chance — maybe the last chance. To screw it up would be fatal.
*Editor’s Note: On Oct. 9, 2025, Hamas and Israeli agreed to the first phase of a ceasefire and hostage release plan, laying the groundwork for an end to the conflict.
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