President Donald Trump told Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu during a phone call Thursday that he wants him to take steps to implement his Gaza peace plan, according to two sources with knowledge of the matter. The call, which Netanyahu initiated and which also included Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Jared Kushner, and envoy Steve Witkoff, was described by a source as constructive.
The plan has been on hold for months because of the Israeli elections, as the Trump administration did not want its implementation to become a politically explosive issue during the campaign. It calls for disarming Hamas, demilitarising Gaza, and transferring responsibility for governing the enclave to a new Palestinian technocratic government.
A year ago, Israel and Hamas agreed to the first phase of the 20-point plan, leading to a ceasefire and the release of the last living hostages. Trump's Board of Peace, established as part of that agreement, subsequently reached a 15-point plan with Hamas in July to disarm armed groups and transfer control. Netanyahu's government has largely refused to move forward with implementation, mostly for domestic political reasons, and the prime minister remains deeply sceptical that Hamas will ever demilitarise, arguing the group is reconstituting and rearming.
Over the past three months, the Board of Peace has been working with the Israeli government and military to refine the plan and address Israeli concerns. A US official said the process would be gradual, with reconstruction beginning only after progress on disarming Hamas had been verified. The board unveiled a six-month, $2.45 billion initial recovery plan for Gaza during the UN General Assembly in September.
A source with knowledge of the details said the Trump administration, the Board of Peace, and Israel agree that the plan is the best way forward and that there is no credible alternative. "The implementation will be difficult but we believe it is a good plan for Israel. Nevertheless we can't do it with one hand tied behind our back," the US official said. "We want to move forward collaboratively and we need full cooperation and partnership from the Israeli government."
A day after the call, former British Prime Minister Tony Blair, a member of the Board of Peace, visited Israel. He met with Netanyahu and his opponent Gadi Eisenkot, who has been tasked with trying to form a new government, a source with knowledge of the visit said Blair urged Netanyahu and other Israeli political leaders to give the plan a chance. The call between Trump and Netanyahu also addressed the war in Iran.
Analysis
Why This Matters
- The plan represents the most detailed framework yet for post-war governance and recovery in Gaza, but has stalled due to Israeli domestic politics.
- Trump's direct intervention signals the administration is prioritising the plan and will not wait for the formation of Israel's next government.
- The plan's success depends on cooperation from both a sceptical Israeli leadership and Hamas, which sources report has agreed to disarm.
Background
The Gaza peace plan was developed by Trump's Board of Peace following the 2023-2024 Gaza war. Its first phase secured a ceasefire and the release of remaining hostages. The subsequent phases, agreed in principle with Hamas last July, require Hamas to disarm in exchange for a Palestinian technocratic government taking over civilian and security control, supported by an International Stabilisation Force and a major reconstruction package. Implementation was put on hold during the Israeli election campaign, which concluded on Oct. 27.
Key Perspectives
The Trump administration: Believes the plan is the only viable path forward and is pressing Israel to implement it immediately, seeking full cooperation and partnership from the Israeli government.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu: Remains highly sceptical of the plan, particularly Hamas's commitment to demilitarisation, and his government has refused to act on it for domestic political reasons.
Gadi Eisenkot (opposition candidate): Is being courted by the Board of Peace to support the plan if he succeeds in forming a new government.
Hamas: Reached a 15-point agreement with the Board of Peace in July to disarm armed groups and transfer control to a new technocratic government.
What to Watch
- Whether a coalition government is formed under Netanyahu or Eisenkot and how it positions itself on the plan.
- Whether Hamas demonstrates a concrete, verifiable commitment to disarmament.
- The progress of the $2.45 billion initial recovery plan and the proposed International Stabilisation Force.
Checked
12 claims in this story checked against 1 source: 12 supported.
Show each claim
- SupportedTrump asked Netanyahu to move on the Gaza peace plan in a post-election call.Axios: “Scoop: Trump asked Netanyahu to move on Gaza peace plan in post-election call.”
- SupportedTrump wants to forge ahead with the Gaza plan regardless of who forms the next government.Axios: “Now that it's over, the president wants to forge ahead with his Gaza plan, regardless of whether Netanyahu or his opposition forms a new government.”
- SupportedTrump told Netanyahu during a Thursday phone call that he wants him to take steps to implement the plan, according to two sources with knowledge of the matter.Axios: “President Trump told Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu during a phone call Thursday that he wants him to take steps to implement his Gaza peace plan, according to two sources with knowledge of the matter.”
- SupportedNetanyahu initiated the call, which included Rubio, Kushner and Witkoff, and a source described it as constructive.Axios: “Secretary of State Marco Rubio as well as Kushner and Trump envoy Steve Witkoff also participated in the call between the president and Netanyahu. A source with knowledge of the details described the call, which Netanyahu initiated, as constructive.”
- SupportedA US official said, “The implementation will be difficult but we believe it is a good plan for Israel. Nevertheless we can't do it with one hand tied behind our back,”Axios: ““The implementation will be difficult but we believe it is a good plan for Israel. Nevertheless we can't do it with one hand tied behind our back,” the U.S. official said.”
- SupportedThe US official also said, “We want to move forward collaboratively and we need full cooperation and partnership from the Israeli government.”Axios: ““We want to move forward collaboratively and we need full cooperation and partnership from the Israeli government,” the person added.”
- SupportedThe plan has been on hold for months because of the Israeli elections, and the administration wanted to avoid making implementation politically explosive during the campaign.Axios: “But it has been on hold for months because of the Israeli elections held on Oct. 27. The Trump administration did not want implementation of the plan to become a politically explosive issue during the Israeli election campaign.”
- SupportedA year ago, Israel and Hamas agreed to the first phase of the 20-point plan, leading to a ceasefire and the release of the last living hostages.Axios: “A year ago, Israel and Hamas agreed to the first phase of Trump's 20-point plan, which led to a ceasefire in the Gaza war and the release of the last 20 living hostages taken during the Oct. 7, 2023 attacks.”
- SupportedIn July, the Board of Peace reached a 15-point plan with Hamas to disarm armed groups and transfer control.Axios: “Last July, the Board of Peace reached an agreement with Hamas on a 15-point plan to disarm the armed groups in Gaza and transfer civilian and security control to the new Palestinian technocratic government.”
- SupportedNetanyahu's government has largely refused to implement the plan, mostly for domestic political reasons, and Netanyahu remains sceptical Hamas will demilitarise.Axios: “Since then, Netanyahu's government has largely refused to move forward with implementing it, mostly for domestic political reasons. Netanyahu was and still is extremely skeptical that Hamas will ever demilitarize.”
- SupportedThe Board of Peace unveiled a six-month, $2.45 billion initial recovery plan for Gaza in September.Axios: “Trump's Board of Peace unveiled a six-month, $2.45 billion initial recovery plan for Gaza during the U.N. General Assembly in September.”
- SupportedA day after the call, Tony Blair visited Israel, met Netanyahu and Gadi Eisenkot, and urged Israeli political leaders to give the plan a chance.Axios: “A day after the call, former British Prime Minister Tony Blair, who is a member of the Board of Peace, visited Israel. He met with Netanyahu and his opponent Gadi Eisenkot, who's been tasked with trying to form a new government to replace Netanyahu's. A source with knowledge of the visit said Blair urged Netanyahu and other Israeli political leaders to give the plan a chance.”