Islamabad – Pakistan has formally announced its support for United States President Donald Trump’s 21-point plan aimed at ending Israel’s ongoing war in Gaza, with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif calling it a “pathway to durable peace” and stressing that a two-state solution remains essential for regional stability.
The plan, first revealed by The Times of Israel on 27 September 2025, was shared by Washington with a select group of Muslim and Arab leaders during a high-level meeting convened by Trump on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly in New York on 23–24 September. Leaders from Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Turkiye, Indonesia, Egypt, Qatar and Jordan were present at the discussions.
According to officials, the draft was prepared by US President Trump together with Special Envoy Steve Witkoff, former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, and former National Security Advisor Robert O’Brien. Negotiation inputs were also sought from former UK Prime Minister Tony Blair, Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner, as well as advisors drawn from Qatar, Egypt, the UAE, Saudi Arabia, and even negotiation experts associated with Zionist groups.
The three-page document was first circulated among leaders and officials from Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Qatar, Egypt, Jordan, Turkey, Indonesia, and Pakistan on Tuesday, 23 September, during the UNGA sidelines in New York. Al-Arabiya reported on Friday, 26 September, that the plan had been quietly shared before its later disclosure by Israeli media.
US Special Envoy Steve Witkoff confirmed on 23 September that the proposal had indeed been floated in this meeting, which Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas was unable to attend after the United States denied him a visa.
Sharif Endorses Plan
In a post on X, Prime Minister Sharif welcomed Trump’s 21-point framework, highlighting that his country does not recognize Israel and continues to call for an independent Palestinian state on pre-1967 borders.
“I am also convinced that durable peace between the Palestinian people and Israel would be essential in bringing political stability and economic growth to the region,” he wrote. He added: “It is also my firm belief that President Trump is fully prepared to assist in whatever way necessary to make this extremely important and urgent understanding to become a reality.”
Sharif also lauded the role of US envoy Steve Witkoff, saying he had played a “vital role in bringing an end to this war.”
On 25 September, Sharif and Pakistan’s Army Chief Field Marshal Asim Munir held direct talks with Trump at the White House, part of Islamabad’s broader effort to reset ties with Washington on security, trade, and peace in the wider region.
Revelation of the Plan
The 21-point Gaza peace plan was first revealed by The Times of Israel on 27 September 2025, which reported having obtained and authenticated a copy of the document. According to the newspaper, the plan was shared by the United States with a handful of Muslim and Arab countries during sideline meetings at the United Nations General Assembly in New York earlier that week.
The report stressed that the proposal explicitly encouraged Palestinians to remain in Gaza and established a pathway toward eventual Palestinian statehood, a marked departure from earlier US rhetoric about relocating Gaza’s population.
The 21 Points of Trump’s Gaza Peace Plan
The plan represents one of the most detailed proposals yet to resolve the conflict, demanding immediate action and offering a roadmap for Gaza’s future governance, security, and development.
As published by The Times of Israel on September 27, 2025 and other outlets, the plan outlines a comprehensive roadmap:
1. Gaza to become a de-radicalized, terror-free zone.
The Strip must cease to pose any threat to its neighbors, with Hamas’s offensive capacity dismantled and radical infrastructure removed.
2. Gaza’s redevelopment.
Reconstruction to focus on housing, healthcare, and jobs, reversing destruction caused by nearly two years of Israeli bombardment.
3. Immediate ceasefire and Israeli withdrawal.
Once both parties agree, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) must halt all operations and gradually hand over territory.
4. Hostages released within 48 hours.
All 20 remaining living hostages and the remains of those killed to be returned swiftly.
5. Large-scale prisoner exchange.
Israel to release 250 Palestinians serving life sentences, 1,700 detainees held since October 2023, and the remains of deceased Palestinians.
As per Washington Post, for each Israeli hostage’s remains, Israel must return the remains of 15 Gazans.
6. Amnesty and safe passage for Hamas members.
Hamas fighters who pledge peaceful coexistence will be pardoned, while those unwilling may leave Gaza under safe passage guarantees.
7. Surge in humanitarian aid.
Delivery of at least 600 trucks of aid per day, including food, medicine, and rubble-clearing equipment, with priority on restoring hospitals and schools.
8. Humanitarian distribution monitored internationally.
Aid to be distributed by the UN, Red Crescent, and other neutral agencies without interference from either Israel or Hamas.
9. Transitional governance.
A technocratic administration of Palestinian experts to manage daily affairs, overseen by an international body led by the US in consultation with Arab and European partners. Reports suggest former UK PM Tony Blair could head a Gaza International Transitional Authority (GITA) for several years.
10. Comprehensive economic plan.
A strategy to rebuild Gaza’s economy through investments, infrastructure projects, and integration with regional trade networks.
11. Creation of an economic zone.
A reduced-tariff zone to attract investment, generate jobs, and stimulate long-term economic growth.
12. Right to remain and return.
No forced expulsion of Gazans; displaced residents encouraged to return, while those who fled abroad can come back. The US explicitly rejected earlier relocation proposals.
13. No role for Hamas in governance.
Hamas is barred from political power, with all tunnels and offensive infrastructure to be destroyed.
14. Regional security guarantees.
Arab states to ensure compliance, preventing Gaza from becoming a security threat.
15. Deployment of a multinational peace force.
A stabilization force made up of Muslim-majority states and backed by the US to take control of Gaza, train a Palestinian police force, and secure borders.
16. No Israeli annexation of Gaza.
Israel commits not to occupy or annex Gaza; phased IDF withdrawal tied to deployment of international forces.
17. Partial implementation if Hamas rejects.
If Hamas refuses, “terror-free” zones will still be handed over to the stabilization force, keeping the plan alive.
18. Protection of Qatar.
Israel commits to halting strikes on Qatar, recognizing Doha’s mediation role throughout the conflict.
19. De-radicalization and interfaith dialogue.
Programs to reshape narratives in Gaza and Israel, fostering coexistence and countering extremist ideologies.
20. Pathway to Palestinian statehood.
Once the Palestinian Authority reforms and Gaza’s redevelopment advances, conditions will be created for a viable Palestinian state, a shift from previous US policy.
21. US-brokered political horizon.
The US will establish a dialogue mechanism between Israel and the Palestinians to create a political horizon for “peaceful coexistence.”
The Times of Israel report emphasized that the plan explicitly calls for Palestinians to remain in Gaza, a marked shift from earlier US discussions suggesting relocation.
Wider Context and International Reaction
The proposal emerged as Israel’s military operations in Gaza, ongoing since October 2023, have taken the lives of over 65,000 Palestinians according to regional counts, alongside strikes in other states that have alarmed Muslim nations. A recent United Nations Human Rights Council inquiry concluded that Israel’s campaign constitutes genocide against Palestinians.
Trump told reporters on 26 September that “a real chance for greatness in the Middle East” existed, adding that negotiations had been “intense for four days” and that “all countries within the region are involved, Hamas is very much aware of these discussions, and Israel has been informed at all levels, including Bibi Netanyahu.”
While Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu has not dismissed the plan outright, he has called the two-state pathway “sheer madness.” Hamas, for its part, has said it is willing to “consider responsibly” any plan that protects Palestinian national rights.
Pakistan’s Stance
For Islamabad, backing the US plan is more than a diplomatic gesture; it reflects a bid to shape the future of the Middle East at a moment of historic flux. Officials emphasize Pakistan’s long-standing commitment to the Palestinian cause, rejection of Israeli occupation, and willingness to contribute to Gaza’s reconstruction and transitional governance.
Prime Minister Sharif has reiterated that a two-state solution remains “the only viable route to lasting peace,” a view now embedded in the broader Muslim consensus.
By supporting the initiative, Pakistan positions itself as both a steadfast advocate for Palestinian rights and a constructive partner in regional stability, a role that blends moral responsibility with the practical demands of a shifting order where Muslim nations are expected to bear the weight of financing and enforcing peace.
