US President Donald Trump’s 20-point framework for Gaza is the most detailed American attempt yet to end the current war and rebuild a devastated territory. It seeks to bind three objectives into one document: the release of hostages, the disarmament of Hamas, and the creation of a transitional administration that paves the way for reconstruction. On paper, the plan is comprehensive; in practice, it faces the same obstacles that have haunted every peace initiative in the region.

The strongest feature of the proposal is its sequencing. Hostages are to be freed within 72 hours of acceptance, while Israel withdraws in stages and aid flows in without interference. The linkage between humanitarian relief and demilitarisation is designed to remove excuses from both sides: Hamas cannot retain hostages as bargaining chips, and Israel cannot indefinitely delay civilian recovery. Yet these very linkages also........

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