On September 29, US President Donald Trump presented a 21-point peace plan for Gaza at the White House alongside Netanyahu. While there have been positive reactions to the plan, there have also been negative ones, and this article was written as an expression of one such negative reaction. There are many reasons to object to this so-called peace plan.
But first, it is necessary to examine the language Trump used. Trump said that if Hamas did not accept the plan, the US would give Netanyahu its full support to “do what he has to do.” Trump and the previous Biden administration not only remained silent about whatever Netanyahu did, but also sent weapons so that the genocide could continue. If Hamas does not accept the offer, Israel will kill more Palestinians, and Trump will say, “I told you so,” and absolve himself. If Hamas accepts the offer, they will exonerate Israel for the massacres it has committed so far and whitewash the terrorist state as if Israel had not killed 100,000 people. Therefore, the first reason for rejecting the plan is to prevent Israel from being exonerated.
Secondly, and most importantly, the claim that Israel will gradually withdraw to the borders will never materialize. Looking at the map, it will be seen that while there used to be walls around Gaza, now a military zone, probably 10 km wide, will be created on the inside of the walls. Since this zone also includes the Philadelphia Corridor connecting Gaza to Egypt, all connections with Egypt will be severed. Thus, Gaza will be completely surrounded by Israel on all sides. This means that Gaza will no longer be an open-air prison but an open-air cell.
On the other hand, the 10 km military zone accounts for 15-20 percent of Gaza’s territory. For Israel, this means land acquisition and new illegal settlements.
The third reason for rejection is that the administration of Gaza would be handed over to Trump and Tony Blair, not to the Palestinians. According to the plan, Trump will become the head of the Peace Council, while Tony Blair will take an executive position. Thus, Gaza will once again fall under British/American mandate, with the shadowy figure Tony Blair at its helm. Although there will be Palestinians in the new administration, their role will be nothing more than reforming and intimidating the people. This intimidation method has been successful in the West Bank, so they want to try it in Gaza too.
It is certain that if the plan works, the Palestinian people’s independence will be fundamentally lost. Neither Trump, who is under Israel’s blackmail, nor Tony Blair will give the independence that Hamas is trying to achieve through resistance and Fatah is trying to achieve by pleasing Israel. On the other hand, since the current plan imposed by the US and Israel also eliminates the legitimacy granted to Palestine by the United Nations, the rights granted by international law will also be nullified. In other words, if Trump’s plan is accepted, the UN’s decisions regarding Palestine will be nullified by Hamas itself.
The fourth reason is that if Netanyahu had committed to sticking to the agreement, we would have written that Netanyahu would not keep his word and would not hesitate to carry out operations inside Gaza. Despite having previously made an agreement with Hezbollah, Netanyahu, who did not hesitate to bomb Lebanon, will continue to bomb hospitals under the pretext of Hamas.
However, before we even wrote this thesis, Netanyahu said he would not withdraw from Gaza. Do not think that Trump, who threatened Hamas for not complying with the agreement, will also threaten Netanyahu, who said he would not comply with the agreement.
Trump cannot do this because, according to the information that has emerged, Israel prepared the plan and gave it to Trump. It is unlikely that a US president who gives Israel such unlimited support would take a stand against Israel. On the other hand, Israel will once again have used the American administration as a tool to achieve its goal through this plan. Indeed, if Hamas rejects the plan, Israel will have slipped through the cracks, and we will be watching a US-Hamas conflict unfold.
In conclusion, Trump’s peace plan will serve no purpose other than to be his personal show and further increase Israel’s massacres. If the US and Israel truly want peace, they can achieve it not by imposing their own conditions, but by listening to the other side. Although Hamas has not yet made its decision, it will not be possible to talk about peace unless the following points are met.
First, Israel must return to the pre-October 7 borders and not occupy Gaza’s territory under the pretext of security. In particular, there will be no Israeli military presence in the Philadelphia Corridor connecting the Gaza Strip to Egypt. Furthermore, Gaza’s coastline will also be outside Israel’s control.
Second, there will be no interference with aid to the people of Gaza.
Third, Israel will not carry out massacres in Gaza whenever it wants. The way to prevent this will be the deployment of a coalition of Muslim and non-Muslim countries in Gaza. This coalition will also protect the Gaza-Israel border. Perhaps this will deter them from indiscriminate firing and bombing.
Fourth, individuals such as Tony Blair, who is responsible for the deaths of 1.5 million people in Iraq and who has been involved in illegal activities even after leaving office, should not be part of the Gaza administration. Instead, Arab/Muslim and/or United Nations-appointed administrators should govern Gaza. No one who sides with Israel can govern Gaza impartially and inspire confidence in the people.
We know that it is highly unlikely that Israel will accept the above and similar points. We do not expect a country that relies on its asymmetric military power, American support, and lack of conscience to bring peace and freedom to the people it kills every day. Therefore, the war and slaughter will continue.
The good news is that the Palestinian cause is no longer just an Arab/Muslim cause; it has become a cause for humanity. Now, Israel and the US (along with a few sly supporters) are on one side, and various countries are on the other. Just as the civilized world took action with the Sumud flotilla and began to drive the Israelis out of the streets, this anger will soon change the fate of Gaza. The anti-Israel awakening should not be underestimated. Thanks to this awakening, Israel itself will become Gaza, and the Israelis will be trapped there.
In conclusion, Hamas must not accept Trump’s unilateral plan, which legitimizes Israel’s oppression by prioritizing its interests. Even if Hamas officials were to accept it, they themselves must realize that one day they will not escape an Israeli assassination. The resistance has come at a high cost in lives and bodies, but Trump’s plan is no better than the resistance.
It is, of course, easy to tell Palestinians, who see one of their own killed every day, not to accept the plan, but it must also be emphasized that in any agreement imposed by the wolf on the lamb, the lamb has no right to life.
