Trump’s peace plan anticipated Hamas’s duplicity and what to do about it

Introduction
The adept actions, maneuvering, and negotiations of President Trump and Prime Minister Netanyahu and their strategy and negotiating teams laid the foundation for adoption of President Trump’s 20-point plan for peace in a document titled “Implementation Steps for President Trump’s Proposal for a Comprehensive End of Gaza War” (the “Plan for Peace” or the “Plan”) on October 9, 2025. The immediate results were that the 20 remaining living Israeli hostages and the bodies of 7 of the dead hostages kidnapped by Hamas on October 7, 2023, were released and returned to their homes and families. A ceasefire took place in Gaza as the Israel Defense Forces pulled back to an agreed upon front line position.
The joy of Israelis, Palestinians, and others who saw the Plan as the path to end the Israeli Palestinian conflict, was immediately tempered with Hamas’ immediate and violent breach of the Plan with the killing of its Palestinian enemies and perceived Israeli collaborators in Gaza.

It is now time for those legally and rightfully bound by the plan to join Israel to completely remove Hamas from Gaza and begin implementation of the plan

Trump, Netanyahu and Others Expected Hamas’s Duplicity
Hamas is a terrorist organization whose very existence is premised on the destruction of Israel, with Gaza is its base to achieve that goal. Included in the provisions of the Plan that apply specifically to Hamas, are the following:

“1. Gaza will be a deradicalized terror-free zone that does not pose a threat to its neighbors.

6. Once all hostages are returned, Hamas members who commit to peaceful co-existence and to decommission their weapons will be given amnesty. Members of Hamas who wish to leave Gaza will be provided safe passage to receiving countries.

13. Hamas and other factions agree to not have any role in the governance of Gaza, directly, indirectly, or in any form. All military, terror, and offensive infrastructure, including tunnels and weapon production facilities, will be destroyed and not rebuilt. There will be a process of demilitarization of Gaza under the supervision of independent monitors, which will include placing weapons permanently beyond use through an agreed process of decommissioning, and supported by an internationally funded buy back and reintegration program all verified by the independent monitors. New Gaza will be fully committed to building a prosperous economy and to peaceful coexistence with their neighbors.”

The leader of Saudi Arabia did not attend the signing of the Plan for Peace, and the UAE downgraded its participation. It was reported that these two countries, who are anticipated to provide the bulk of the funds to reconstruct Gaza, were emphasizing a position they made clear during the peace negotiation process that Hamas being disarmed and removed from power is a precondition for their participation in implementation of the Plan.

The ink on the Plan for Peace, signed by Hamas supporters Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani of Qatar and President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan of Turkey, was hardly dried, before Hamas returned to the streets of Gaza, executing Palestinians it deemed its enemies and those it believed had collaborated with the Israelis, and reimposing its control over civilian life in Gaza. Hamas immediately breached the terms of the Plan for Peace when it announced that it will not surrender its arms nor leave Gaza. President Trump responded with his typical unvarnished truth that he personally spoke with Hamas leaders and that they promised to him that Hamas would surrender its arms and that if Hamas does not abide by that promise, the IDF, and perhaps other forces, will enter Gaza and kill them.

The Plan Requires Hamas’ Supporters Qatar and Turkey and Others, Including the US to Join Israel in Removing Hamas from Gaza.

The Plan for Peace now places the burden to remove in Hamas not only on Qatar and Turkey, who in essence signed the Plan on behalf of the absent Hamas, but also arguably all those who attended the signing in support of the Plan. As stated in the Plan:
“14. A guarantee will be provided by regional partners to ensure that Hamas, and the factions, comply with their obligations and that New Gaza poses no threat to its neighbors or its people.”

The day to demand compliance with that “guarantee” has come. The burden to finally and forever remove Hamas from Gaza is no longer the sole province of Israel. That burden is now legally shared with the US, Egypt, Qatar, and Turkey who signed the Plan, and rightfully with those who supported the Plan by their attendance, who include the leaders of Jordan, Kuwait, Bahrain, Indonesia, Azerbaijan, France, Germany, United Kingdom, Italy, Spain, Greece, Armenia, Hungary, Pakistan, Canada, Norway, Iraq, and Oman, and organization leaders for the United Nations, Palestinian Authority, European Council, and the Arab League.

The Plan for Peace calls for the above countries to develop a security force to deploy to Gaza:

“15. The United States will work with Arab and international partners to develop a temporary International Stabilization Force (ISF) to immediately deploy in Gaza. The ISF will train and provide support to vetted Palestinian police forces in Gaza and will consult with Jordan and Egypt who have extensive experience in this field. This force will be the long-term internal security solution. The ISF will work with Israel and Egypt to help secure border areas, along with newly trained Palestinian police forces. It is critical to prevent munitions from entering Gaza and to facilitate the rapid and secure flow of goods to rebuild and revitalize Gaza. A deconfliction mechanism will be agreed upon by the parties.”

It is time for the UN to Step Up.
In practical terms, due to the immediacy of the need to protect Palestinians from Hamas, this means that the IDF will remain on the frontline of combating and removing Hamas and absent Hamas immediately reversing course, such must begin today.

It now time for the UN to condemn Hamas and under the Plan it has an obligation to do so. Further, it must give its full support to Isreal, the US and others who join Israel in acting now to free the Palestinians from Hamas, until the International Stabilization Force (ISF) is ready to do so. This is consistent with the Plan’s provision:
“17. In the event Hamas delays or rejects this proposal, the above, including the scaled-up aid operation, will proceed in the terror-free areas handed over from the IDF to the ISF.”
It is equally important, as provided in the Plan, for the “Board of Peace” to be immediately formed and governance of areas under Israeli control be assumed for “delivering the day-to-day running of public services and municipalities for the people in Gaza”:
“9. Gaza will be governed under the temporary transitional governance of a technocratic, apolitical Palestinian committee, responsible for delivering the day-to-day running of public services and municipalities for the people in Gaza. This committee will be made up of qualified Palestinians and international experts, with oversight and supervision by a new international transitional body, the “Board of Peace,” which will be headed and chaired by President Donald J. Trump, with other members and heads of state to be announced, including former prime minister Tony Blair. This body will set the framework and handle the funding for the redevelopment of Gaza until such time as the Palestinian Authority has completed its reform program, as outlined in various proposals, including President Trump’s peace plan in 2020 and the Saudi-French proposal, and can securely and effectively take back control of Gaza. This body will call on best international standards to create modern and efficient governance that serves the people of Gaza and is conducive to attracting investment.”

Conclusion
Hamas knew that the provisions of the Plan would take time to implement, thus creating a “vacuum” within Gaza, allowing Hamas to regain control of at least part of Gaza as the IDF pulled back. But, unlike prior ceasefire agreements, the Plan does not end there. It provides for Hamas’ removal from Gaza and establishment of new governance which excludes Hamas. President Trump is committed to the Plan and its successful implementation, as should all countries and organizations who attended the signing of the Plan.

Hamas is committed to killing. Its leaders have no honor, integrity or redeeming qualities. They cannot be trusted. It is nothing short of a miracle that Hamas was put in a position where it determined that its best option was to return the living Israeli hostages. Even if the Plan were to fail in its further implementation, it is a success for Israel, but a failure for the future of the Palestinian people if they face a future under the jackboot of Hamas.