On Sunday, September 28, 2025, U.S. President Donald Trump expressed a bold vision for peace in the Middle East, describing the moment as a "real chance for greatness" in a region long plagued by conflict. In a post on his social media platform, Truth Social, Trump declared, "All are on board for something special, first time ever," signaling unprecedented regional alignment toward a transformative peace process. He concluded his message with a resolute promise: "We will get it done."
The announcement came on the heels of a high-level multilateral meeting held on Tuesday during the 80th United Nations General Assembly in New York, where Trump engaged with leaders from several majority-Muslim nations, including Türkiye, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Indonesia, Pakistan, Egypt, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), and Jordan. The discussions primarily focused on resolving the ongoing war in Gaza, securing the release of hostages, and laying the groundwork for long-term stability in the region. Trump’s remarks suggest a rare convergence of interests among historically divergent parties, raising hopes for a diplomatic breakthrough while underscoring the challenges of navigating deeply entrenched political and ideological divides.
In a subsequent interview with Axios, Trump elaborated on the collaborative spirit driving his initiative. "The Arab countries were fantastic to work with on this. Hamas is coming with them. They have great respect for the Arab world," he said, hinting at the potential inclusion of Hamas in negotiations, a move that would mark a significant departure from traditional U.S. and Israeli policy. He further emphasized a shared desire for peace, stating, "The Arab world wants peace, Israel wants peace, and Bibi wants peace," referring to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu by his nickname. Trump clarified that his goal extends beyond merely ending the Gaza conflict to fostering a broader, sustainable peace across the Middle East.
Diplomatic Efforts Intensify
To advance these ambitions, Trump dispatched White House envoy Steve Witkoff and his son-in-law, Jared Kushner, to meet with Netanyahu in New York on Sunday. A source familiar with the discussions told Axios that the meeting aimed to bridge remaining gaps between U.S. and Israeli positions on the proposed peace plan. The engagement reflects Trump’s hands-on approach to diplomacy, leveraging personal relationships and high-level envoys to facilitate dialogue. The source, speaking on condition of anonymity due to the sensitivity of the talks, indicated that the discussions were productive but did not disclose specific outcomes.
Trump’s diplomatic push follows his presentation of a 21-point plan during the Tuesday meeting with regional leaders. The plan, described as a comprehensive framework for resolving the Gaza conflict, includes measures to secure the release of hostages taken during the October 2023 Hamas attack on Israel, rehabilitate Gaza’s devastated infrastructure, and establish a governance structure excluding Hamas. While the full details of the plan remain undisclosed, Trump’s emphasis on excluding Hamas from future governance aligns with longstanding U.S. and Israeli policies but raises questions about the feasibility of implementation, given Hamas’s entrenched presence in Gaza.
In a notable departure from speculation about Israeli territorial ambitions, Trump explicitly stated that he would not permit Israel to annex the West Bank. This position marks a clear boundary in U.S. support for Israel, reflecting Trump’s intent to balance Israeli security concerns with the broader goal of regional stability. The statement also responds to growing international concerns about Israeli settlement expansion and the potential for further escalation in the occupied territories.
Trump is scheduled to meet Netanyahu again on Monday to discuss the proposals in greater detail. While the Israeli government has not issued an official statement on Trump’s plan, the U.S. president told Axios that Netanyahu is supportive. However, Netanyahu’s public statements suggest a more complex reality. In an interview with Fox News on Sunday, the Israeli prime minister reiterated his opposition to any role for the Palestinian Authority (PA) in governing Gaza, describing it as a "red line." This stance highlights a potential point of contention, as the PA is widely seen as a critical partner in any post-conflict governance structure for Gaza.
The Gaza Crisis: A Humanitarian Catastrophe
The urgency of Trump’s peace initiative is underscored by the catastrophic toll of the ongoing war in Gaza. Since October 2023, when Hamas launched a surprise attack on Israel, killing over 1,200 people and taking more than 200 hostages, the Israeli military response has been relentless. According to Palestinian health authorities, the Israeli army has killed over 66,000 Palestinians, the majority of whom are women and children. The bombardment has reduced much of Gaza to rubble, rendering the enclave largely uninhabitable. Entire neighborhoods have been destroyed, critical infrastructure such as hospitals and schools has been obliterated, and widespread starvation and disease have compounded the humanitarian crisis.
The United Nations and international aid organizations have repeatedly warned of the dire conditions in Gaza, where access to food, clean water, and medical supplies is severely limited. Displaced families, numbering in the hundreds of thousands, are living in makeshift shelters or overcrowded refugee camps, with little hope of returning to their homes. The spread of infectious diseases, exacerbated by unsanitary conditions and a collapsed healthcare system, has further deepened the suffering of Gaza’s 2.3 million residents.
The international community has faced significant challenges in delivering aid to Gaza, with Israeli restrictions on border crossings and ongoing military operations complicating relief efforts. The crisis has also fueled global outrage, with protests in major cities calling for an immediate ceasefire and an end to the blockade of Gaza. Trump’s 21-point plan reportedly includes provisions for humanitarian aid and reconstruction, but the specifics of how these measures would be implemented remain unclear.
Regional Dynamics and the Path to Peace
Trump’s optimism about a potential breakthrough in the Middle East reflects a convergence of regional dynamics that could create a unique window of opportunity. The participation of leaders from Türkiye, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and other Muslim-majority countries in Tuesday’s meeting signals a willingness to engage in collective problem-solving. These nations, each with distinct interests and relationships with the parties involved, bring a diverse set of perspectives to the table.
Saudi Arabia, for instance, has historically played a pivotal role in Arab-Israeli diplomacy, particularly through its leadership in the 2002 Arab Peace Initiative, which offered Israel normalized relations with Arab states in exchange for a two-state solution. The UAE, which normalized relations with Israel under the 2020 Abraham Accords brokered during Trump’s first term, has emerged as a key player in regional diplomacy. Qatar, a longtime mediator in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, has facilitated past ceasefire agreements and maintains channels of communication with both Hamas and Israel. Türkiye, under President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, has taken a vocal stance in support of Palestinian rights while maintaining economic ties with Israel.
The inclusion of Hamas in the discussions, as suggested by Trump’s comments to Axios, is a particularly contentious issue. Hamas, designated as a terrorist organization by the United States, Israel, and several other countries, has governed Gaza since 2007. Its exclusion from governance is a core component of Trump’s plan, but the group’s participation in negotiations could signal a pragmatic approach to achieving a ceasefire and securing hostage releases. This approach, however, risks alienating Israel, which has consistently refused to negotiate directly with Hamas.
Netanyahu’s opposition to the Palestinian Authority’s involvement in Gaza further complicates the diplomatic landscape. The PA, which governs parts of the West Bank under the Oslo Accords, is viewed by many in the international community as a legitimate partner for peace. However, Netanyahu’s distrust of the PA, rooted in concerns about its ability to maintain security and counter extremism, could undermine efforts to establish a viable governance structure in Gaza. The Israeli prime minister’s insistence on maintaining military control over Gaza to prevent future attacks adds another layer of complexity to the negotiations.
Historical Context and Challenges Ahead
The Israeli-Palestinian conflict, now in its eighth decade, has defied numerous attempts at resolution. From the Oslo Accords in the 1990s to the Camp David Summit in 2000 and the Annapolis Conference in 2007, past peace efforts have faltered due to disagreements over key issues such as borders, Jerusalem, refugees, and security arrangements. The Gaza conflict, which erupted in October 2023, represents one of the deadliest chapters in this history, with unprecedented levels of destruction and loss of life.
Trump’s current initiative builds on his administration’s earlier efforts to reshape Middle East diplomacy. During his first term, the Trump administration unveiled the "Peace to Prosperity" plan in 2020, which proposed a two-state solution with significant concessions to Israel, including recognition of Israeli sovereignty over parts of the West Bank. The plan was rejected by Palestinian leaders, who viewed it as heavily biased toward Israel, and it failed to gain traction. The Abraham Accords, however, marked a significant achievement, normalizing relations between Israel and several Arab states and shifting the regional paradigm toward economic and security cooperation.
The current moment presents both opportunities and risks. The involvement of a broad coalition of Arab and Muslim-majority countries suggests a potential for collective pressure to achieve a resolution. However, deep-seated mistrust between Israel and the Palestinians, coupled with domestic political constraints on both sides, poses significant obstacles. In Israel, Netanyahu’s coalition government includes hardline nationalist parties that oppose concessions to the Palestinians, while Palestinian factions remain divided between Hamas’s militant approach and the PA’s diplomatic strategy.
Global Implications and Future Prospects
The outcome of Trump’s peace initiative could have far-reaching implications for U.S. foreign policy and global stability. A successful resolution to the Gaza conflict could bolster U.S. credibility as a mediator and strengthen alliances with Arab partners. It could also pave the way for broader regional cooperation on issues such as counterterrorism, energy, and climate change. Conversely, failure to achieve a breakthrough risks further destabilizing the region, exacerbating humanitarian suffering, and fueling anti-American sentiment.
The international community, including the United Nations, the European Union, and other global powers, is closely watching Trump’s efforts. The UN has repeatedly called for a ceasefire and unimpeded humanitarian access to Gaza, while European leaders have emphasized the need for a political solution based on a two-state framework. Russia and China, which have their own strategic interests in the Middle East, may seek to influence the process, adding another layer of complexity to the negotiations.
Looking ahead, the success of Trump’s plan will depend on several factors: the willingness of all parties to make painful compromises, the ability to deliver tangible humanitarian relief to Gaza, and the establishment of a governance structure that can maintain stability in the absence of Hamas. The role of regional powers, particularly Saudi Arabia and Qatar, will be critical in sustaining momentum and ensuring accountability.
Conclusion
President Trump’s declaration of a "real chance for greatness" in the Middle East reflects a bold and ambitious vision for resolving one of the world’s most intractable conflicts. His 21-point plan, coupled with high-level diplomatic engagements, signals a renewed U.S. commitment to peace in the region. However, the path forward is fraught with challenges, from reconciling divergent Israeli and Palestinian positions to addressing the catastrophic humanitarian crisis in Gaza. As Trump prepares to meet with Netanyahu and regional leaders continue to engage, the world watches with cautious optimism, aware that the stakes could not be higher.
