Netanyahu, Trump Present Gaza Peace Plan Amid US Government Shutdown Risks

President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu jointly announced a 20-point peace proposal aimed at ending the Gaza conflict, which includes a phased Israeli withdrawal, the establishment of a Palestinian technocratic administration overseen internationally, and a demand for Hamas to release hostages and disarm. While Netanyahu and several Arab and European leaders have expressed support for the plan, it faces skepticism from Netanyahu’s far-right coalition and uncertainty from Hamas, which has yet to accept the proposal and has expressed concerns it favors Israel too heavily. Trump has set a deadline for Hamas to accept the deal, warning that failure to do so would result in full U.S. backing for Israel to continue military operations against Hamas. The plan calls for a temporary ceasefire, demilitarization of Gaza, and no role for Hamas in governance, with Trump proposing to chair a transitional oversight board alongside international figures like Tony Blair. Meanwhile, U.S. domestic politics complicate the situation, as federal government shutdown talks falter, with Trump threatening to use any shutdown as a pretext to permanently fire thousands of federal employees. The coming days will be critical in determining whether Hamas accepts the peace deal and how U.S. political dynamics will influence the administration's stance on Gaza and broader governance issues.