Key Sticking Points in Trump's Gaza Peace Plan: An Overview

Fri Oct 10 2025 16:10:33 GMT+0300 (Eastern European Summer Time)

Negotiators prepare for crucial discussions in Egypt regarding an end to the Israel-Gaza conflict, facing significant challenges within Trump's peace framework.

As indirect negotiations between Israel and Hamas commence in Sharm El-Sheikh, key sticking points within Trump's 20-point peace plan are becoming apparent. While both sides have tentatively agreed on aspects of the proposal, critical issues such as hostage release, Hamas disarmament, governance of Gaza, and Israeli military withdrawal remain unresolved. Understanding these points is vital for predicting the potential outcome of the talks.

Negotiators from Israel and Hamas are heading to Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt, to start indirect talks over an end to the Israel-Gaza war. It is the closest both sides have come to a deal since the war began two years ago. But Donald Trump's 20-point peace plan - which Israel has agreed to and Hamas has partly agreed to - is really just a framework, only a few pages long. There are still major sticking points for both sides to resolve.

Hostage Release Structure

Trump's plan states that within 72 hours of a deal being agreed all remaining hostages would be released. It is thought 48 Israeli hostages remain in Gaza, 20 of whom are believed to be alive. Trump said over the weekend the hostages could be released very soon, while Netanyahu said they could be freed before the end of the Jewish holiday Sukkot - or October 13th. Hamas has agreed to the hostage exchange formula detailed in Trump's plan, providing certain field conditions are met. But the hostages are the group's only bargaining chip - and it's unclear whether it would be willing to release them before other elements of the deal are finalized.

Hamas Disarmament

Israel's stated goal throughout the war has been the destruction of Hamas, with Netanyahu asserting he will not stop until the group is finished. A key point in Trump's plan requires the group to disarm. However, Hamas has previously refused to lay down its weapons, stating it would only do so once a Palestinian state has been established. In its response, Hamas made no mention of disarmament, indicating it hasn’t changed its position.

Future Governance of Gaza

The plan specifies that Hamas will have no future role in Gaza, which will be governed by a temporary transitional body of Palestinian technocrats - supervised by a Board of Peace chaired by Donald Trump and involving former UK Prime Minister Tony Blair. Though Netanyahu agreed to all aspects of Trump's plan, he has pushed back on the involvement of the Palestinian Authority (PA) in governing the territory, which is objectionable to hardliners within his coalition.

Israeli Withdrawal

A fourth sticking point is the extent of Israel's military withdrawal from Gaza. Trump's plan notes that the withdrawal will be based on standards and timelines agreed upon by all parties. Controversially, the maps displayed do not match the Israeli military's own maps, which adds to the uncertainty.