Trump's Gaza Plan Centers on International Control, Not Israeli Governance
A post-war plan for Gaza, initiated by former U.S. President Donald Trump in September 2025 and adopted by the UN Security Council in November, designates international bodies to manage the Strip, explicitly excluding direct Israeli administration. The plan, which was part of an ceasefire agreement leading to hostage releases, established entities such as the "Board of Peace," the "National Committee for Gaza Administration" (NCAG), and the "International Stabilization Force" (ISF).
Israel's security prerequisites for withdrawal, including the full demilitarization of Gaza and the exclusion of Hamas and the current Palestinian Authority from governance, were incorporated into the plan. However, the framework also mandates an eventual Israeli withdrawal and precludes Israeli control over Gaza. While Israel publicly rejected a detailed operational roadmap published by the Board of Peace, it has not proposed an alternative.
The UN Security Council Resolution 2803, passed on November 17, 2025, authorized these international bodies. The Board of Peace, chaired by Donald Trump with Nikolay Mladenov as High Representative, is tasked with strategic oversight and resource mobilization. The NCAG, led by Palestinian public figure Dr. Ali Shat, is responsible for daily civilian management and public services. The ISF is designated to secure the demilitarization process and ensure separation between the IDF and NCAG areas.
Despite the UN and White House endorsements, the NCAG has not yet become operational on the ground. It lacks a permanent headquarters, an operational budget, and actual governing authority, with its limited activities currently based in Egypt. Israel, under Prime Minister Netanyahu's directive, has reportedly prevented the entry of NCAG members and their operations into Gaza, citing the incomplete demilitarization of the Strip as the primary reason.
This situation effectively allows Hamas to retain de facto civilian control, as the proposed alternative governance structures are stalled. The plan's reliance on Hamas's voluntary disarmament is seen as a significant vulnerability, with no clear enforcement mechanism if the organization fails to comply. The article highlights that Netanyahu's stated condition of "true demilitarization" before Israeli withdrawal, while seemingly aligned with the plan's security prerequisites, is paradoxically hindering the implementation of the civilian governance aspects intended to weaken Hamas's control.
