One Year On, Trump's Gaza Plan Stalled Amid Ongoing Israeli Operations

A year after the launch of former US President Donald Trump's plan to end the Gaza war, the initiative remains largely stalled. Israel continues near-daily attacks on the Gaza Strip, now occupying approximately two-thirds of the devastated territory, where Palestinians face dire humanitarian conditions. The first phase of the plan, intended to achieve a ceasefire by October 10, 2025, and secure the release of remaining Israeli hostages and Palestinian prisoners, has seen limited success.

While a ceasefire was envisioned, Israel has maintained its bombing campaign, with Gaza's Health Ministry reporting at least 1,400 Palestinian deaths since the initial ceasefire, many of them women and children. Israel claims its strikes target Hamas, which denies these allegations, while the Israeli military reports five soldiers killed by Palestinian militants or in combat since the ceasefire began. The plan also outlined a significant increase in aid, but aid agencies report that Israel prevents the entry of essential materials, citing potential military use by Hamas.

Trump's plan included a phased Israeli withdrawal and the reconstruction of Gaza, with later stages involving Hamas's disarmament and the establishment of a new Palestinian governing body. However, Israel has not fully withdrawn, expanding its actual occupation to about 64% of Gaza. Reconstruction efforts are also lagging, with a proposed $2.45 billion plan falling far short of the estimated $71.4 billion needed over the next decade, according to EU and UN assessments.

Despite Hamas indicating a willingness to relinquish its weapons under certain conditions, Israel has deemed the plan unacceptable, demanding complete disarmament before any withdrawal. Plans for an international stabilization force, to be led by US General Gasper J. Jeffers and comprising troops from several nations, are in development but not yet formed. A Palestinian technocratic governing body, the National Committee for Gaza Administration, headed by Ali Shaath, has been appointed but has not yet entered Gaza.

Meanwhile, some Israeli politicians, including Defense Minister Yisrael Katz, continue to advocate for the "voluntary emigration" of Palestinians from Gaza, with the Israeli Ministry of Defense establishing an office in 2025 to oversee this process, a concept that has faced significant international opposition.