Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu makes statements in the State Dining Room of the White House, Washington, D.C. on September 29, 2025 (Jim Watson/AFP)
UPDATE 0647 GMT:
I joined BBC Radio Wales to summarize the 20 points of a “sketch” by Donald Trump and Benjamin Netanyahu.
I evaluate the political, military and humanitarian situation, as the Netanyahu Government tries to break its growing international isolation over the mass killing in Gaza.
To listen, you need to be in the UK or have a VPN:
Listen to Discussion from 19:27
UPDATE 0600 GMT:
In an 11-minute interview with Pakistan TV, I take apart the Trump-Netanyahu 20-point ultimatum to Hamas.
I consider whether the Gazan group will agree to release Israeli hostages and bodies within 72 hours. I look at the vagueness of the 20 points beyond the demand, including over any Israeli military withdrawal, provision of aid, or governance and security in the Strip.
I begin by noting that only a few weeks ago, Hamas was close to accepting a more detailed ceasefire proposal from Qatar and Donald Trump’s envoy Steve Witkoff. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu refused to consider it, instead launching the assault on Gaza City.
Unless you have a viable plan, what’s the default position? It’s going to be Israeli occupation.
Watch from 3:46:
UPDATE, OCT 1:
I joined a panel on India’s News 9 on Tuesday afternoon to assess the “plan” for Gaza presented by Donald Trump and and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
I follow the propaganda lines of George Birnbaum, Netanyahu’s Chief of Staff, and the other three panellists are Israel and pro-Netanyahu activists.
Netanyahu made clear, “We can do this the easy way or the hard way.” If Hamas rejects the ultimatum, then the Trump Administration will back Israel overrunning Gaza City and the rest of the Strip.
I conclude with a rebuttal of the invective of other panellists:
Many Palestinians just want to live in peace. They want to raise their families, they want to work at their jobs, they don’t want their movement restricted. Just as Israelis want.
What’s the barrier to that right now? You can slander “Palestinians”, but the fact is that the issue in the West Bank is the expansion of [illegal] settlements, and the problem in Gaza is that you’re killing those Palestinians.
You’re killing them, you’re not giving them a chance to live in peace.
Watch from 13:05:
ORIGINAL ENTRY, SEPT 30: I spoke with France 24 English on Monday morning, hours before Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu presented an ultimatum to Hamas: Accept a 20-point “plan” or Israel will “finish the job” in “destroying” the organization in Gaza.
The terms call for Hamas to release the remaining Israeli hostages, 20 alive and 28 dead, within 72 hours. The organization will disarm and will be banned from any political role in the Strip. In return, Israel’s forces will withdraw to unspecified lines.
An international “board” will oversee Gaza, with a regional and international security force. The board, to be headed by Donald Trump, will over a “technocratic, apolitical Palestinian committee” which will administer public services. Israel will allow the UN and other organizations to distribute aid.
I dissect the vagueness of the 20 points and cut to the chase: this is essentially a demand for Hamas’s surrender amid increasing international pressure on the Netanyahu Government to end its mass killing.
This is designed for the US and Israel to get the initiative back, amid those calling for an end to the attacks on Gaza —- and Netanyahu rejecting a ceasefire proposal earlier this month and launching the assault on Gaza City.
