The US President also reportedly ruled out allowing Israel to annex parts of the West Bank
September 25, 2025 09:04
US President Trump has presented a “21-point peace plan” to Arab and Muslim leaders at the UN during a meeting on the sidelines of the ongoing General Assembly.
"We had a very productive session. We presented what we call the Trump 21-point plan for peace in the Mideast and Gaza,” said US Middle East Envoy Steve Witkoff, adding: “I think it addresses Israeli concerns and, as well, the concerns of all the neighbours in the region.
"We're hopeful, and I might say, even confident that in the coming days, we'll be able to announce some sort of breakthrough.”
Witkoff did not provide further details as to what the 21 points were, but Axios has reported that the main principles of the plan include freeing all of the remaining hostages, a permanent ceasefire, gradual Israeli withdrawal from the Strip, a post-war plan for governance that does not include Hamas, a security force including Palestinians and soldiers from Arab and Muslim countries, funding from Arab and Muslim countries for administration and reconstruction, and "some involvement of the Palestinian Authority".
And the "day after" proposal was, according to the Times of Israel, based on the framework developed by the Tony Blair Institute (TBI), details of which were recently revealed.
According to the leaked draft, the plan would not involve the mass displacement of Gazans, contrary to previous reports.
Instead of the so-called “Trump Riviera”, which was outlined by the president earlier this year, the TBI scheme involves the creation of a Property Rights Preservation Unit, which would secure Gazans’ right to remain in the territory.
“We do not have a plan to move the Gazan population out of Gaza. Gaza is for Gazans,” one source is reported to have said.
The plan would also see the establishment of a Gaza International Transitional Authority (GITA), which would govern the Strip for an indeterminate period, after which control would be handed over to the Palestinian Authority (PA).
Blair reportedly met PA President Mahmoud Abbas in July to hammer out the details of the transition, and Ramallah is said to have “engaged constructively” with the proposals.
An Israeli delegation is understood to have been similarly accepting, though the Times of Israel’s source suggested that Prime Minister Netanyahu is still seen as a potential hurdle given his fierce public opposition to any PA involvement in Gaza’s future.
Meanwhile, Trump is also reported to have ruled out allowing any Israeli attempt to annex the West Bank during the same meeting.
A number of Israeli ministers have pushed for such a move in response to the recognition of Palestinian statehood by countries including the UK, France and Canada last week.
Per reports in both Politico and the Times of Israel, though, Trump was firm on the point that annexation was not an option.
And, despite pressure from within his own coalition and his own party, Prime Minister Netanyahu is reported not to be in favour of the move either.
It was reported in Hebrew media last week that the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) was "quietly briefing" senior members of the Likud party against calling for "sovereignty" over the West Bank.
The PMO reportedly told some ministers and MKs that such calls "cause damage", adding: "The prime minister said he knows when and how to act.”
Instead, Netanyahu used a recent speech to emphasise the growth of Israeli settlements in the territory, saying: "We will continue on this course."
And senior security officials are also reportedly pushing for sanctions on PA leaders instead of annexation as a response to recognition efforts.
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