US outlines new 21-point proposal to free all Israeli hostages, end Gaza War in exchange for up to 200 terrorists serving life sentences

The U.S. Trump administration has outlined a new proposal to end the Gaza war and secure the release of all Israeli hostages, an unnamed affiliated source told CNN.

Washington’s 21-point plan aims to free the remaining 48 hostages within 48 hours of an agreement being reached between Israel and Hamas, according to the report. In return, Israel would release between 100 to 200 terrorists currently serving life sentences. The source did not provide details or specify which high-profile prisoners might be included in such a potential deal to end the conflict.

U.S President Donald Trump told reporters on Friday that Washington was conducting intense negotiations with various Middle East nations with the goal of ending the war in Gaza and securing the release of the Israeli hostages.

“I think we have a deal on Gaza – very close to a deal on Gaza,” Trump told media representatives at the White House. “It’s looking like we have a deal on Gaza. We’ll let you know.”

He added, “It’s going to be a deal that will get the hostages back. It’s going to be a deal that ends the war. It’s going to be peace. I think we have a deal.” Hamas has previously rejected multiple international proposals aimed at achieving a ceasefire and ending the Gaza war.

Last month, Trump said the Gaza war could end if Hamas surrenders and releases the remaining Israeli hostages.

“The fastest way to end the Humanitarian Crises in Gaza is for Hamas to SURRENDER AND RELEASE THE HOSTAGES!!!” Trump wrote in a post on his social media platform Truth Social. However, Hamas, which openly calls for Israel’s destruction and the killing of Jews, has rejected growing international calls to surrender and disarm.

The Trump administration's new plan reportedly outlines a phased Israeli military withdrawal of Israeli forces from the Gaza Strip, a permanent ceasefire and the disarmament of Hamas under Arab and international supervision. It also proposes the creation of a temporary Arab-led governing authority to administer Gaza after the war, with the intention of eventually transferring control to a “reformed” Palestinian Authority (PA). According to the plan, Hamas leaders would be offered amnesty and exile in return for disarming and relinquishing their control of the territory.

An informed source told CNN that the new U.S. plan does not set a specific timeline for the withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza. However, it emphasizes that Israel will refrain from targeting Qatar in the future and that Hamas will be excluded from any governing role in post-war Gaza.

Earlier this month, Israel conducted an unprecedented aerial strike on Hamas headquarters in the Qatari capital of Doha. All senior Hamas leaders inside the targeted building are believed to have survived the attack.

The Trump plan also proposes a renewed role for the United Nations to provide humanitarian aid to Gaza, but did not mention the Israel-backed and U.S.-led Gaza Humanitarian Foundation.

Washington’s new peace plan reportedly recognizes a pathway towards a “Palestinian state” but stops short of actually recognizing its statehood. The Trump plan envisions establishing a demilitarized buffer zone around Gaza, with post-war reconstruction to be funded by regional and global actors.

On Thursday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Emirati Foreign Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed reportedly discussed Gaza and other regional developments on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York.

Trump is reportedly pressuring Netanyahu to accept Washington’s new plan to end the war in Gaza.

“There is a great deal of American activity. For them, this is crunch time. They are fully mobilized to end the war and bring the hostages home,” an unnamed Israeli official said.

However, it is still unclear whether Hamas will accept the latest Trump proposal.