President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu championed a newly released 20-point “comprehensive plan” that would ostensibly bring an end to the ongoing battle between Israel and Hamas during a Monday afternoon press conference. 

The two leaders notably conceded that Hamas has not yet agreed to the plan, although they agreed that it would be unwise for Hamas not to accept the terms of the agreement. 

Recommended Stories

• HUD takes action against department lawyers claiming to be whistleblowers
• Jared Kushner's Middle East ties showcased in Trump's second term despite lacking title
• WATCH LIVE: Netanyahu meets with Trump at the White House

“This is a big, big day, a beautiful day, potentially one of the great days ever in civilization,” Trump boasted about a potential ceasefire. 

READ IN FULL: TRUMP’S 20-POINT PLAN TO END THE WAR IN GAZA

“We’re getting everybody a chance to have this done peacefully, something that will achieve all our war objectives without any further bloodshed,” Netanyahu warned. “But if Hamas rejects your plan, Mr. president, or if they supposedly accept it and then, then basically do everything to counter it, then Israel will finish the job by itself. This can be done the easy way, or it can be done the hard way, but it will be done. We prefer the easy way, but it has to be done.”

Monday’s announcement capped months of back-and-forth between Israel, Hamas, the United States, and other third-party negotiators.

Both Special Envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, the president’s son-in-law, have been personally involved in the ceasefire talks and were seated in the front row at Monday’s press conference. Netanyahu made a point of thanking both men individually for their work on the negotiations. 

However, the Trump White House has grown increasingly frustrated with Netanyahu’s prolonged campaign, with the president hinting on multiple occasions that his Israeli counterpart must do more to end the violence in Gaza.

The proposed 20-point plan calls for the immediate release of hostages, dead or alive, within 72 hours, the release of full aid into a famine-struck Gaza, and the deradicalization of Gaza. 

Furthermore, Trump is proposing the creation of a new international body, called the “Board of Peace,” to oversee “a technocratic, apolitical Palestinian committee, responsible for delivering the day-to-day running of public services and municipalities for the people in Gaza,” during the rebuilding effort, according to the White House.

Trump himself would head the board, a position that he claimed to only be filling at the request of Arab nations in the region.

“Sort of a beautiful name, the board of peace,” he stated. “Not at my request, believe me, I’m very busy, but we have to make sure this works. The leaders of the Arab world and Israel and everybody involved asked me to do this, so it’ll be headed by a gentleman known as President Donald J Trump of the United States. That’s what I want. There’s some extra work to do, but it’s so important that I’m willing to do it.”

NETANYAHU EXPRESSED ‘REGRET’ TO QATARI PRIME MINISTER OVER STRIKE

Monday’s event, billed as a press conference, concluded with neither leader fielding questions from the press as talks are ongoing.

“While we wait for these documents to be signed and get everybody in line, I think it maybe is not really appropriate to take questions,” the president told reporters.

“That’s a very, very tough proposition, but I would think, Mr. President, that I would go by your instinct,” Netanyahu added, after Trump gave him the option of calling on a “friendly” Israeli reporter. “We’ll have enough time for questions. Let’s settle the issue first.”