Beyond Trump’s 21 Points; A Real Framework for Gaza’s Future

Beyond Trump’s 21 Points; A Real Framework for Gaza’s Future

Former U.S. President Donald Trump recently unveiled his much-debated 21-point plan for Gaza, presenting it as a pathway to peace and reconstruction. Yet, as Al Jazeera and other observers have highlighted, the proposal leaves critical questions unanswered. Rather than a roadmap, the plan reads like a series of broad strokes that lack clarity, enforceability, or guarantees for Palestinian rights.

The Five Unanswered Questions

Al Jazeera distilled the flaws of Trump’s plan into five fundamental gaps:

1. Who governs Gaza?

The plan suggests an interim “technical administration” under an international board, but fails to define its composition, authority, or accountability.

2. What role for the Palestinian Authority (PA)?

The PA’s inclusion is conditional and vague, tied to “reforms” without clear standards or timelines. Gaza is treated as a separate entity rather than part of a unified Palestinian framework.

3. Who provides security?

The plan calls for an “international stabilization force,” but leaves open who contributes troops, how long they stay, and what their mandate entails.

4. When does Israel withdraw?

Israel’s exit is linked to undefined benchmarks, with no binding timeline—raising fears of indefinite occupation under the guise of “transition.”

5. Is Palestinian statehood possible?

The plan skirts the core issue of sovereignty, reducing the question of statehood to a distant possibility rather than a guaranteed right.

Why This Approach Falls Short

The absence of clear mechanisms risks turning Gaza into a semi-permanent international protectorate with Israel retaining de facto control. By failing to commit to statehood or self-determination, the plan undermines both legitimacy and long-term stability. Any proposal that denies Palestinians agency over their governance will fail—politically, morally, and practically.

A Better Framework for Gaza

A sustainable solution must be Palestinian-centered, internationally guaranteed, and phased with clear benchmarks. A stronger alternative framework could include:

1. Immediate Humanitarian Sovereignty

• Lift the siege and allow unfettered humanitarian access under UN supervision.

• Establish a joint UN–Arab League Emergency Authority (UALEA) to oversee aid, medical relief, and reconstruction in the first 12 months.

2. Inclusive Interim Governance

• Form a Gaza Transition Council (GTC) composed of representatives from the Palestinian Authority, independent civil society, and technocrats chosen through intra-Palestinian consensus.

• The council should function transparently, monitored by international observers but answerable to Palestinians.

3. Security & Demilitarization Guarantee

• Deploy a neutral Multinational Stabilization Mission (UN/AU/Arab League), with strict neutrality rules.

• Israel must commit to a time-bound withdrawal (e.g., 18 months), guaranteed by the U.S., EU, and Arab states.

4. Phased Political Integration

• Within 24 months, Gaza is reintegrated into the Palestinian Authority as part of a unity framework leading toward elections.

• Parallel talks define a roadmap toward recognized Palestinian statehood based on 1967 borders with East Jerusalem as its capital.

5. Economic and Reconstruction Compact

• Create a Palestine Reconstruction & Development Fund jointly managed by the World Bank, Islamic Development Bank, and Palestinian institutions.

• Launch a Marshall Plan for Gaza—investing in desalination, housing, energy, and jobs—with international donors bound by transparent contracts.

The Path Forward

The central principle is clear: no peace without Palestinian agency, no stability without justice. Trump’s plan may sound bold, but without a framework that respects Palestinian self-determination, it cannot deliver. The alternative outlined above offers a structured, enforceable, and dignified pathway—one that addresses immediate humanitarian needs while laying the foundation for genuine peace and statehood.

Syed Ali Raza Naqvi Bukhari

Unity of Peace, Economic Reform, and Global Unity

Founder & Chairman of Tehreek Istehkam Pakistan, and the author of “Law of God” and “Social Democratic System.” Advocates for truth, social justice, and reform in all sectors of society.