The deal the Israeli prime minister signed up to includes the possibility of statehood under a reformed Palestinian Authority, but he remains set against it
September 30, 2025 09:57
Prime Minister Netanyahu has ruled out a future Palestinian state, despite the possibility being explicitly mentioned in the peace plan he agreed to yesterday.
In a video address from Washington following a joint press conference with President Trump, Netanyahu said: “It was a historic visit.
"Instead of Hamas isolating us, we turned things around and isolated Hamas.
"Now the whole world, including the Arab and Muslim world, is pressuring Hamas to accept the terms that we created together with Trump, to bring back all the hostages — the living and the dead — while the IDF stays in the Strip.”
And, asked about the prospect of a Palestinian state, he replied: “Absolutely not. It’s not written in the agreement.
"We said we would strongly oppose a Palestinian state.”
He also claimed that Trump agreed with his assertion that such a state would be a “massive prize for terror”.
The Trump administration has previously opposed Palestinian statehood and, in the press conference, Trump himself stated that he disagreed with the decision taken by the UK, France and Australia, among others, to recognise Palestine this year.
However, point 19 of the US-backed peace plan specifically states that, after Gaza is redeveloped and the Palestinian Authority reformed, "the conditions may finally be in place for a credible pathway to Palestinian self-determination and statehood, which we recognise as the aspiration of the Palestinian people".
While not a hard and fast commitment to statehood, it remains unclear whether Washington would back any future attempt to establish an independent Palestine, but the prospective peace deal suggests that such a measure has not been completely ruled out.
It comes after Trump confirmed that Israel and several Arab nations had signed up to the "comprehensive plan for peace" published by the White House yesterday.
Hamas has said that it is considering the proposal “in good faith” but has yet to give a formal response, though Trump said he "has a feeling" that the terror group will provide "a positive answer".
Suggesting that his plan could be the first step towards "eternal peace in the Middle East", the president also indicated backing from a number of significant players in the region, including Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Qatar, as well as "European allies".
The most noteworthy points of the plan include a phased IDF withdrawal from Gaza, the establishment of a transitional technocratic government, the full dismantling of Hamas' infrastructure, the release of all hostages, living and dead, within 72 hours of agreement and the resumption of "full aid" to the Strip.
The latter would also see the withdrawal of the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (the US and Israeli-backed organisation currently running aid distribution in southern Gaza) in favour of the old, UN-administered aid scheme, which Israel has long criticised.
Meanwhile, the transitional government will have "no involvement" from Hamas or other terror factions and will be overseen by a "Board of Peace", headed by a number of high-profile figures, including Trump himself and former UK Prime Minister Tony Blair.
There is no commitment not to restart the war in future, though - something long considered a red line by Israel but seen as essential by Hamas.
In fact, Trump said that Israel would have Washington's "full backing" to "finish the job" should Hamas not keep to the deal.
And the Israeli premier also reportedly negotiated some "eleventh hour" additions to the plan, including slowing down the proposed military withdrawal and requiring the full disarmament of Hamas.
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