By Dr. Soma Marla
On September 29, 2025, President Trump has unveiled a 20 point peace plan to end the two year long Gaza genocide by Israel. The proposal comes, amidst the ongoing genocide in Gaza, that caused enormous human suffering of human life that was never heard of since World War II. The plan is offered at a time when global outcry condemning Israeli genocide and major western nations recognized the Palestinian state and demanded immediate ceasefire. While, Israeli Prime minister Netanyahu has immediately supported the plan, Hamas ( pressured by mediators Egypt, Qatar and other Arab nations) is reviewing and yet to express its decision. Public outcry is visibly seen in huge demonstrations in cities across the world, demanding end of brutal Israeli genocide on innocent Gazan children and women. In the midnight of 1st October, several boats with climate activists led by Greta Thunberg carrying aid material to Gazan population were intercepted and arrested in mid sea by Israeli army.
The plan outlined by Trump in the presence of Netanyahu contains 20 points. The plan proposes a gradual withdrawal of Israeli Défense Forces from the Gaza Strip in different phases, Israel to release Palestinian prisoners in exchange for Hamas freeing remaining hostages; a Board of Peace, headed by former British Prime minister Tony Blair will oversee security in Gaza by a temporary International Stabilization Force (ISF), led by Arab partners. However, The plan, unveiled, does not consider many outstanding issues on immediate provision of relief material, execution of the plan, with no credible pathway to Palestinian self-determination and statehood or two state concept.
The plan is likely to fail, similar to past Middle East peace agreements. Analysts around the world sees this a design mainly through real estate economic development lens by transforming to a tourist commercial venture to benefit a few billionaires by uprooting Gazan population from the territory.
There are Major problems not considered in devising this Peace plan.
The plan is proposed by USA and Israel is unilateral without consultations with major stalk holders- Hamas and Palestinian authority. Despite its the brutal and unmindful attack on Israel’s youth camp on October 7, 2023, Hamas is the democratically elected body to govern Gaza since 2007. President Trump and his ally Mr. Netanyahu have even issued an ultimatum to Hamas to accept the plan. If Hamas doesn’t accept the plan, Israel will continue the war and to totally eliminate Hamas but also Palestinian population from Gaza strip. Mr. Trump in the press conference declared his full support for Israel to continue the war. As per the plan, Hamas should release all hostages, alive and dead, within 72 hours, and Israel forces will withdraw from the territory. Once the hostages are freed, Hamas would be given amnesty after surrender with no roll in the governance of Gaza. If Hamas agrees to the plan, Israel will free 250 Palestinian prisoners (sentenced to life), and 1,700 Gazans detained after the October 7, 2023 Hamas attack.
Lack of Trust
With promises to gradual withdrawal of Israel from Gaza and formation of regional stabilizing force there is no mention of time frame for its implementation. There is lack of trust between both sides right now. And several aspects of the plan are so vague, there is a big risk both sides could accuse the other of breaking their promises. It happened in the past as Netanyahu backed out from accepted ceasefire agreements. The main intention of Netanyahu appears to total elimination of Hamas and Palestinian freedom fighters from the territory with no special desire for release of surviving Israeli hostages. By elimination of Hamas, condemning self determination and formation of Palestinian state and totally silencing Palestinian resistance Mr. Netanyahu wants earn political capital to get re-elected again as Prime minister in the forthcoming elections.
Will The Plan succeed
There is no concrete time line for Israel’s withdrawal and who would monitor this process. There is no guarantee on the indecent decisions by other middle Eastern nations proposed to be members of the proposed Stabilizing force. Egypt, Qatar, Saudi Arabia did show little support and solidarity with genocide affected Palestinians in the recent past. Most of these nations walk in the shadow of past Abraham accord and are strongly tied to USA militarily.
it would also be very difficult for Netanyahu to accept “a credible pathway to Palestinian self-determination and statehood” as outlined in the plan. He has firmly rejected this in the past, as seen from his recent address to the UN General Assembly last week. He depends too much politically for his survival on ultra orthodox Jewish allies in his coalition government. As per the indications Hamas is unlikely to accept the plan. It would be a total submission to Israel’s expansionism and an end to self determination and statehood of independent Palestinian state.
India’s Tacit Support to Israel
Tacit political and military support by many countries continue to emboldens Israel to pursue shamelessly genocide and mass killings. Total reversal of Indian foreign policy towards Palestine and outright support to criminal deeds of Israel are dictated by both economic, military and political interests. India’s silence in UN deliberations, warm greetings exchanged between Prime Ministers Modi and Netanyahu, Union Finance minister Smt. Nirmala Sitaramn signing a bilateral trade aggrement with visiting Israeli finance minister, Indian corporate exports to Israel, India’s dependence on military spy software, military imports and especially cementing trade alliance between Indian and Israeli corporates.
For example Adani-Elbit Advanced Systems India, Ltd. manufactures the Hermes 900 drone, which are used in Gaza. Adani’s Haifa Port harbours Israeli navy facility and facilitates Israel’s submarine fleet. Tata Consultancy Group has been working on the Project Nimbus system, which provides surveillance and targeting of Palestinians in Gaza. Tata has sold Israel Land Rover vehicles, which the Israeli military has converted into the MDT David, an armoured vehicle it uses in patrols in the West Bank and in Gaza. Jain Irrigation, through NaanDanJain, works to supply and build irrigation systems in the illegal Israeli settlements in the West Bank of the occupied Palestinian settlements. Reliance Jio has been working closely with Israeli digital firms to build Israel’s digital infrastructure, while Reliance Defence has worked with Rafael Advanced Defence Systems to build missile systems and drones for the Israeli military.
President Trump’s Gaza Peace Plan seems to evict Palestinian population from Gaza and establish his real estate ventures. Also, USA and Israel wants show to the world that that no one dares to challenge the economic, military hegemony of US and Israel in the region. This is nothing but a continuation of imperialist colonial policy of west and an united global resistance and solidarity with Palestinian independence can only revert these draconian antihuman policies.
Dr. Soma Marla, Principal Scientist & Head, retd., Genomics division, NBPGR, ICAR, New Delhi.
2 October 2025
Source: countercurrents.org