'Israel' helped draft Trump settlement plan for Gaza
3 Min Read
According to the Wall Street Journal, "Israel" pushed for changes in Trump's Gaza plan that aligned it closely with its interests.
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US President Donald Trump speaks upon departing a news conference with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, in foreground, in the State Dining Room of the White House, Monday, September 29, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)
The Wall Street Journal has reported that "Israel" played a key role in shaping US President Donald Trump's plan for a settlement in the Gaza Strip. According to unnamed officials, "Israel" insisted on several amendments to the draft, which were ultimately included in the final version presented to Arab mediators.
On Monday, the White House unveiled Trump’s 20-point Gaza plan. The proposal was handed to Hamas through Egypt and Qatar, with the movement saying it would review the document before providing a formal response.
The plan calls for an immediate ceasefire and the release of all captives within 72 hours of its acceptance. In exchange, "Israel" would release 250 Palestinians serving life sentences, along with more than 1,700 others who have been detained since October 7, 2023. It further stipulates the suspension of all military operations, including aerial and artillery bombardments, to allow the agreement to take effect.
As US President #DonaldTrump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met at the White House to discuss a ceasefire plan for #Gaza, the White House revealed #Trump’s plan to end the war on Gaza. pic.twitter.com/nhYcVSxnVh
— Al Mayadeen English (@MayadeenEnglish) September 29, 2025
Governance of Gaza would be transferred to a technocratic and apolitical Palestinian committee, supervised by an international body headed by Trump and could include international figures such as former UK Prime Minister Tony Blair. The transitional authority would remain in place until the Palestinian Authority carries out a series of reforms.
'Israel' pushed for changes that align with its interests
While the document leaves vague references to Palestinian aspirations for self-determination, it does not explicitly guarantee a sovereign Palestinian state.
The plan also envisions Gaza being transformed into what Trump described as a "deradicalized, terror-free zone," with a gradual withdrawal of Israeli forces tied to demilitarization milestones. He has promoted his vision of turning Gaza into an economic hub, which he has referred to as the “Riviera of the Middle East,” through large-scale redevelopment projects.
The WSJ report confirms that "Israel" pushed for changes that aligned the plan closely with its interests. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu welcomed the proposal, describing it as potentially historic. However, divisions remain within the Israeli government, particularly over the prospect of granting the Palestinian Authority any role in Gaza.
As US President Donald Trump announced his plan to end the war on Gaza from the #WhiteHouse, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu welcomed Trump's plan.
— Al Mayadeen English (@MayadeenEnglish) September 30, 2025
Netanyahu, restating his regional greedy ambitions near the close of the press conference, thanked #Trump, saying,… pic.twitter.com/TProiKQBLL
Palestinian, Arab reactions
Hamas has adopted a cautious but engaged position, stating that it will study the plan in good faith after being briefed by Qatar and Egypt. The movement has not issued a rejection but continues to stress that Palestinian rights and sovereignty must remain central to any agreement.
The Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ), however, dismissed the proposal outright. Secretary-General Ziyad al-Nakhalah described Trump’s plan as "nothing but a full American-Israeli agreement," calling it a recipe for the continuation of aggression against the Palestinian people and a means of imposing new realities that "Israel" had failed to achieve through war.
Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) Secretary-General, Ziyad al-Nakhalah, said that the announcement by #US President #DonaldTrump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is an American-Israeli agreement, and it mirrors "Israel’s" position in full.
— Al Mayadeen English (@MayadeenEnglish) September 29, 2025
The US-Israeli agreement is… pic.twitter.com/h7RZ6rTHP0
Displaced Palestinian civilians in Gaza have also voiced skepticism, describing the plan as detached from reality and accusing Washington of manipulation.
Additionally, Saudi Arabia has signaled reluctance to finance the initiative unless it includes a clear path toward a "two-state solution". Egypt and Qatar, meanwhile, continue to serve as mediators, passing messages between Hamas and Washington while seeking to prevent further escalation.
