A Deal Is In Place

Apparently US President Donald Trump has a 21 point plan to end the war in Israel as we read in a report from the Jewish News Syndicate:

Negotiations with Arab states and Israel regarding the future of Gaza are underway, U.S. President Donald Trump confirmed on Friday night, speaking in the wake of reports of an ambitious 21-point peace plan put forth by Washington to end the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

“We are having very inspired and productive discussions with the Middle Eastern Community concerning Gaza,” Trump said via Truth Social.

Trump actually thinks Hamas will sign on to the deal:

“All of the Countries within the Region are involved, Hamas is very much aware of these discussions, and Israel has been informed at all levels, including Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu,” he continued.

He was very clear about seeing an end to the fighting:

“Everyone is excited to put this period of Death and Darkness behind them. It is an Honor to be a part of this Negotiation. We must get the Hostages back, and get a PERMANENT AND LONGLASTING PEACE!”

The report goes on to note the overall view of the plan:

On Tuesday, the Trump administration presented a 21-point plan to Arab leaders on the sidelines of the U.N. General Assembly annual general debate in New York, which would see a prompt release of all the remaining hostages, the transfer of power in the Strip to an intermediary Arab-led government, and the gradual withdrawal of Israeli forces from the Palestinian enclave, according to CNN.

Some details that won’t make Israelis happy:

The release of thousands of Palestinian terrorists, including 100 to 200 prisoners with blood on their hands.

A key piece involves Judea and Samaria:

The United States will have guarantees in place that Israel does not apply sovereignty over Judea and Samaria, with both Israeli and Palestinians agreeing to resume negotiations over a peace agreement that would end the decades-old conflict.

More negotiations that will end in Israelis dealing with hostile enemies inside their borders. Hopefully Hamas disagrees with this as well. This next one Hamas will never agree to:

The Washington Post also reported that it obtained a copy of the plan, providing additional details in its Saturday article. These include the destruction of all Hamas’s offensive weaponry, the release within 48 hours of all 20 living hostages and the bodies of the more than two dozen captives believed dead, and the freezing of “battle lines in place.”

More Details

Hamas might like this detail, though:

According to the Post, the plan states: “Once all the hostages have been released, Israel will release 250 prisoners serving life sentences plus 1,700 Gazans detained after October 7. For every Israeli hostage whose remains are released, Israel will release the remains of 15 deceased Gazans.”

After the IDF targeted Hamas leaders in Qatar, Trump, who has close ties to the nation wanted this point to be added:

Further details include an Israeli promise to launch “no further attacks on Qatar.” The plan acknowledges “the important role Qatar has played as a mediator in this conflict,” noting that it was Washington and Jerusalem that first asked Doha to host Hamas negotiators.

It is interesting that a provision to move ahead without Hamas agreeing to it was added:

Other reports stated that the plan would move ahead even if Hamas rejects its terms, with the majority of the 21 points proceeding in terror-free zones conquered by the Israel Defense Forces.

Obviously this would leave the hostages in limbo yet again, something I can’t seeing the Israeli security cabinet accepting. This next one is laughable:

The plan moreover reportedly emphasizes the de-radicalization of the Palestinian population, with the Palestinian Authority undergoing significant reform.

As I expected, one lawmaker was skeptical:

Religious Zionism Party lawmaker Ohad Tal told JNS on Sunday that “any plan must correspond with the five goals outlined by the Security Cabinet in August, primarily that Hamas does not retain any power in Gaza, that the IDF doesn’t withdraw completely and that Gaza is completely disarmed. “Any plan that does not include these principles is irrelevant,” he said.

In a summation of the deal by Israeli author and Bible teacher Amir Tsarfati we get more details:

1. The hostages will be returned within 72 hours.

2. Hamas will be disarmed.

3. The Gaza Strip will be demilitarized.

4. The Strip will be managed by an international body headed by Trump — oh, and also Blair.

5. In the end, Israel will control the perimeter.

6. Trump understands and accepts Netanyahu’s opposition to a Palestinian state.

7. The Palestinian Authority will not be given any foothold in the management of the Strip in any way — and Hamas is out of the question entirely.

8. If the Palestinian Authority does not carry out the reforms Trump has set for it — changing its education system, stopping payments to terrorists, recognizing Israel as a Jewish state, disarming its terror organizations, renouncing the “right of return,” and recognizing Jerusalem as Israel’s capital — then it will not be part of Gaza’s reconstruction.

9. Anyone who wants to leave Gaza will be able to leave, and the Arab states will contribute their share and support it.

And if Hamas says no — Trump: “Bibi, finish the job, like you know how.”

If I were a betting man I think that last line is what will happen. However if Hamas by some chance agrees to hand over the hostages in 72 hours of a deal I would be fine with that. Don’t hold your breath, though.