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)
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.
