PM Netanyahu Accepts President Trump's Gaza Peace Proposal

President Trump when receiving PM Netanyahu at the White House on Monday. (Twitter/@netanyahu)

JAKARTA - Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday expressed his support for the peace proposal sponsored by United States President Donald Trump to end wartime and humanitarian disasters in the Gaza Strip, Palestine.

Speaking at a joint press conference at the White House, President Trump said they were "very close" to the peace deal that was difficult to reach for the Palestinian territories.

However, he warned the Palestinian militant group Hamas, Israel would receive full US support for taking any action deemed necessary if the militants turned down its offer.

The White House released a document containing 20 points calling for an immediate ceasefire, the exchange of hostages detained by Hamas with Israeli detained Palestinian prisoners, a gradual withdrawal of Israeli troops from Gaza, the ceasefire of Hamas, and a transitional government led by international agencies.

President Trump thanked PM Netanyahu "with his approval of the plan and for his belief that if we work together, we can end the deaths and destructions we have witnessed over the years, decades, even centuries," he said.

Standing next to President Trump, PM Netanyahu replied: "I support your plans to end the war in Gaza, which reaches our war goals.

"This plan will bring all of our hostages back to Israel, dismantle Hamas' military capabilities, end its political power, and ensure that Gaza will never again be a threat to Israel," he said.

The US proposal, compiled by special envoy Steve Witkoff and Middle Eastern adviser to President Trump's first term, Jared Kushner, envisioned a ceasefire followed by the release of all remaining hostages within 72 hours in exchange for hundreds of Palestinian prisoners, and a gradual withdrawal of Israeli troops.

The plan outlines a vague path to the Palestinian state after the rebuilding of Gaza went smoothly and the Palestinian Authority carried out reforms, but did not provide details.

The question about the Palestinian state in the end, which PM Netanyahu promised never to happen, is one of the main points that hinder PM Netanyahu's acceptance of President Trump's initiative, according to a source close to the negotiations.

Under the plan, the US will work closely with Arab partners and other international parties to develop temporary stabilization forces to monitor security.

Gaza will be ruled without Hamas involvement and initially there will only be a limited role for the "representation" of the Palestinian Authority.

The proposal also calls for the formation of a Palestinian technocratic committee that is temporarily responsible for daily services in Gaza, which is overseen by an international "peace council" chaired by President Trump and consists of former British Prime Minister Tony Blair, the White House said in a statement.

However, it is clear that the Hamas militant group remains the key to the success of Trump's peace proposal.

"Hamas has not officially received the plan, there is no further information than media publication," a Hamas official told Reuters.

However, an official briefed on the negotiations later said Qatar and Egypt had distributed the document to Hamas, who informed mediators they would review it "in good faith" and then respond.