Policy Alert: The Gaza Peace Plan is a Bold Vision for Regional Prosperity
October 3, 2025 Policy Alerts
Policy Alert: The Gaza Peace Plan is a Bold Vision for Regional Prosperity
Bottom Line Up Front
On September 29, 2025, President Donald J. Trump unveiled a sweeping 20-Point Plan to end the Gaza conflict. It is a bold effort to bring peace, security, and reconstruction to the region. Under the framework, a process would begin to transform Gaza into a deradicalized, terror-free zone that poses no threat to Israel or its other neighbors. President Trump has issued a hard deadline (this Sunday at 6 p.m. ET) for Hamas to accept the deal, warning of “severe military consequences” if they do not.
Building on the vision of the 2020 Abraham Accords, the U.S. plan addresses the sources of Gaza’s instability – Hamas’ terror governance, radicalization, and economic despair – while prioritizing Israel’s right to exist in peace and security as a Jewish, democratic state. Among its provisions:
Secures hostage release and ceasefire: Frees all hostages within 72 hours of acceptance, in coordination with a phased Israeli withdrawal.
Ends Hamas rule permanently: Mandates disarmament of the terror group and the exile of its leadership, paving the way for a terror-free zone with U.S. and partner-led monitoring to prevent Hamas’ resurgence.
Delivers humanitarian aid: Provides for significant humanitarian aid flows and economic zones to rebuild Gaza, all of which bypass Hamas.
Fosters regional normalization: Lays the foundation to expand the Abraham Accords and unlock broader Middle East peace and prosperity.
The analysis below breaks down key aspects of the plan and what Congress can do to support the framework and advance U.S. interests.
FDD Action Expert Analysis
“President Trump’s plan brings clear U.S. leadership and strategic resolve at a moment when both are urgently needed. This conflict began with Hamas’ barbaric October 7, 2023, massacre targeting Israel, and Hamas has remained intent on prolonging the violence by refusing to release innocent hostages or lay down its arms. As the war has continued, too many have lost the moral clarity they held in the immediate aftermath of that day, forgetting that Hamas launched this brutal attack and refuses to relent. The administration’s plan restores that clarity and deserves bipartisan support in Congress. The international community should now exert maximum pressure on Hamas to accept these terms.”
– Nick Stewart,Managing Director of Advocacy, FDD Action
Breaking Down the U.S. Framework
The U.S. framework proposes that the war cease immediately if both Israel and Hamas accept the deal, and that Israeli forces withdraw to a pre-agreed line while hostages are released.
It sets a tight timeline: within 72 hours of Israel and Hamas’ public acceptance, all hostages, living and deceased, must be returned. In parallel, Israel would release prisoners and the remains of Palestinians detained since October 2023.
The plan calls for Hamas members who renounce violence and disarm to be granted amnesty or safe passage out of Gaza. Simultaneously, a reconstruction program would begin under neutral oversight, injecting aid and rebuilding Gaza’s infrastructure, hospitals, utilities, and roads.
The plan proposes interim governance by a technocratic Palestinian committee, overseen by a new international body called the “Board of Peace,” with former United Kingdom Prime Minister Tony Blair playing a significant role. This body would manage redevelopment until the Palestinian Authority is reformed and ready to assume control.
To ensure security, the United States would work with regional partners to deploy an International Stabilization Force (ISF) to Gaza. The ISF would help train vetted Palestinian police, coordinate with Israel and Egypt to secure borders, and enforce demilitarization under independent monitoring. Over time, the Israel Defense Forces would hand over occupied areas to the ISF as conditions allow and progress is made.
The plan has garnered broad support from critical U.S. partners and allies in the region and around the world.
Israeli leadership: Prime Minister Netanyahu agreed with the plan, committing to a Hamas-free Gaza with U.S. oversight, prioritizing hostage release and demilitarization.
Joint statement from key partners: On September 29, 2025, eight countries (Egypt, Jordan, UAE, Turkey, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Indonesia, and Pakistan) welcomed “the role of the American president and his sincere efforts aimed at ending the war in Gaza,” affirming their “readiness to engage positively and constructively with the United States and the parties toward finalizing the agreement and ensuring its implementation.”
European Union: European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen stated the EU “stands ready to contribute” to the plan’s success, tying it to a two-state solution.
France: President Emmanuel Macron welcomed the plan, stating, “I expect Israel to engage resolutely on this basis. Hamas has no choice but to immediately release all hostages and follow this plan.” France’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs called for seizing the plan’s opportunity “without delay” to end the war and jump-start prospects for regional peace.
Italy: Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni hailed the plan as an “ambitious project for the stabilization, reconstruction, and development of the Gaza Strip.” She added, “we welcome President Trump’s plan to end the Gaza war and are ready to contribute our part.”
Germany: Chancellor Friedrich Merz described the plan as “the best chance” to end the war, echoing broader German government support.
United Kingdom: Prime Minister Keir Starmer also welcomed the plan, calling on Hamas to “lay down their arms” and release the remaining Israeli hostages.
The plan addresses humanitarian concerns by dismantling Hamas’ stranglehold on aid and ensuring assistance directly reaches civilians.
Hamas has been the primary driver of Gaza’s humanitarian crisis, diverting food, fuel, and medicine, militarizing hospitals, and using civilians as shields. Despite these obstacles, Israel has facilitated unprecedented aid flows, including through the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, which has delivered over 108 million meals to date.
The U.S. framework introduces neutral mechanisms to guarantee that humanitarian supplies reach the people of Gaza on a greater scale rather than Hamas’ war machine. By pairing international oversight with Gaza’s demilitarization, the plan lays the groundwork for restoring healthcare, rebuilding infrastructure, and protecting civilians from exploitation.
What Congress Can Do
Endorse the framework.
Members of Congress should recognize the significance of this moment and publicly support the peace plan. This includes circulating bipartisan letters of support or even a bipartisan resolution that endorses the 20-Point Plan to signal unified U.S. support for ending the Gaza conflict, removing Hamas, and promoting regional stability.
Amend existing foreign assistance and appropriations law to support the framework’s objectives.
Congress should enact legislation amending the Foreign Assistance Act to condition future aid to the Palestinian Authority (PA) on the specific governance reforms and transparency requirements the Plan lays out. This should include making future assistance contingent on the elimination of Hamas from governing bodies and its affiliates from any future governance structure. It should also require annual audits to ensure U.S. and international aid is not stolen or co-opted by Hamas or other terrorist groups, with swift penalties for non-compliance.
Enforce sanctions against Hamas.
Congressional committees should conduct rigorous oversight to ensure that the State Department, the Treasury Department, and other agencies are working to expand sanctions targeting Hamas leadership and financial networks, including enablers in Iran, Turkey, and elsewhere.
Promote deradicalization and end incitement.
Congress can legislatively mandate deradicalization in Gaza as a core component of U.S. policy, with an emphasis on ending Palestinian Authority incitement and pay-to-slay programs while reforming educational curricula. Congress should also establish a task force to monitor PA institutions, with aid cuts and new sanctions against PA personnel triggered if incitement persists.
Hold allies accountable.
As hostilities have continued in Gaza, Qatar and Turkey have routinely hosted Hamas representatives, even providing them sanctuary. These countries must stop promoting Hamas as a legitimate party on the world stage and expel their leadership. Congress should continue to pressure U.S. allies to uphold the terms of the deal and reject Hamas having any role in the future governance of Gaza.
Support Israel’s military and security capabilities.
Congressional leaders should support the negotiation of a comprehensive follow-on Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Israel to provide sustained military and security assistance, including funding for enhanced missile defense and border security. The agreement should support Israel’s security against the Iranian threat network, including Hamas, and other regional threats. The current MOU expires at the end of the 2028 Fiscal Year.
Combat lawfare against Israel and the United States.
Congress should enact legislation to counter international lawfare, including by expanding and solidifying sanctions on entities and individuals pursuing baseless legal actions against Israel and the United States at the International Criminal Court (ICC), and direct the State Department to lead a diplomatic campaign to counter such efforts. President Trump’s recent executive order targeting the ICC is a welcome step; Congress should move swiftly to codify it.