Trump's Gaza Peace Plan Marks One Year of Progress, Gaining International Support
A year-old plan brokered by former President Donald Trump for Gaza is reporting significant international backing, including substantial reconstruction pledges and UN endorsement, while also excluding UNRWA from future involvement.
One year after former President Donald Trump brokered a ceasefire and outlined a 20-point peace plan for Gaza, the initiative is reporting progress and garnering global support. The plan mandates the complete disarmament of Hamas and other armed groups, leading to the withdrawal of Israeli forces and the transition of power to a new Palestinian government.
Senior advisor to the Board of Peace, Josh Gruenbaum, stated that the past year's success is largely attributable to Trump's leadership and commitment to peace. "The unlock was somebody who came in, who really knew the file because they had the chance to study it and understand it," Gruenbaum said. He noted that Trump and his team created working relationships with regional actors, operating under a philosophy of "peace through strength" and compelling Hamas to understand there was an "off-ramp" to a more dignified resolution.
The Board of Peace has focused on building global consensus, including within Europe, to present the plan as the sole pragmatic approach to ending the conflict. The board has also cultivated strong relationships with the United Nations. In November 2025, the UN endorsed the Board of Peace through Resolution 2803.
The European Union has committed approximately $1 billion for early recovery efforts in Gaza, aligning with the priorities of the Board of Peace and the National Committee for the Administration of Gaza (NCAG). These recovery projects are being undertaken in partnership with the UNDP and UNICEF.
The International Stabilization Force, tasked with training a future Gaza police force and overseeing demilitarization, has secured commitments from Kazakhstan, Morocco, Albania, and Kosovo, with other nations expected to join. Crucially, the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) will have no role in Gaza's future, according to the Board of Peace plan. This decision comes amid an ongoing investigation by USAID's Office of the Inspector General into over 1,500 UNRWA employees for alleged ties to terror groups.
Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, while acknowledging the plan wasn't her preferred approach, stated in a June editorial that it remains the "only framework backed by sufficient leverage, political engagement and potential resources to move parties towards implementation." The Board of Peace has received about $18 billion in reconstruction pledges. Upcoming initiatives include rubble clearance, unexploded ordnance removal, temporary housing construction, and tunnel infrastructure destruction.
Gruenbaum acknowledged the significant hurdles ahead, including the full demilitarization and de-radicalization of Hamas. He described the current situation as "historic" with Hamas, noting verbal agreements and an amnesty path for those who qualify. He believes the 20-point plan represents Hamas's best way forward, especially as regional dynamics shift and Israel continues to apply pressure.
De-radicalization efforts will be managed by the NCAG, which Gruenbaum believes possesses a unique understanding of the situation due to members' upbringing under the current UNRWA-run system. The plan involves the new technocratic government vetting teachers and civil governance personnel.
Gruenbaum expressed optimism about fostering trust between the NCAG and Israeli authorities, which he believes could lead to security for Israel and improved conditions, self-determination, and prosperity for the people of Gaza. He suggested that these best practices could potentially influence the Palestinian Authority and deepen trust between Israel and other entities, marking a significant moment in Middle Eastern history.