Trump Unveils 21-Point Gaza Peace Plan as Israel-Houthi Conflict Persists
Diplomacy at the United Nations unfolds as Gaza is central to talk of a peace framework, while Israel conducts strikes against Yemen-based targets and Hamas remains a focal point of the war.
NEW YORK — President Donald Trump’s 21-point plan to end the Gaza war circulated at the United Nations General Assembly as fighting persisted elsewhere in the region. While Trump pressed diplomacy in New York, Israel conducted long-range strikes against targets inside Yemen, underscoring the volatility of the Middle East even as U.S. diplomacy seeks a path to cease-fire and regional stability.
Trump unveiled the 21-point initiative during meetings on the sidelines of the General Assembly, outlining a framework that officials said is aimed at expediting an end to hostilities in Gaza. A White House official, speaking on background, said the plan calls for the return of hostages, including those who are deceased, and a halt to attacks on Qatar, along with a push for a new dialogue between Israel and the Palestinians toward peaceful coexistence. The official added that the plan would be considered with partners as part of ongoing U.S. engagement to press for security, humanitarian access and governance arrangements. Special Envoy Steve Witkoff described the plan as addressing Israeli concerns as well as regional worries.
During a series of discussions with Arab leaders, officials said the plan’s reception was pragmatic, with critics urging concrete steps to prevent a broader regional spillover. Arab officials told Fox News Digital that leaders pressed Trump to confirm he would block Israeli annexation of the West Bank, describing the talks as productive. The diplomacy occurred as the U.N. gathering drew attention to the broader regional stakes of any Gaza accord.
Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas signaled support for the plan in a recorded UNGA address after being barred from entry to the United States, saying the PA was ready to work with the United States, Saudi Arabia, France, the United Nations and other partners to implement the peace framework. Abbas said the PA is prepared to take over security and governance in Gaza if Hamas disarms, arguing that a path to a just peace would require regional cooperation and a solid security architecture for the Palestinian territories. He stressed that Jerusalem remains the Palestinian people’s capital and vowed that Palestinians would not abandon their homeland.
In advance of a Friday UNGA appearance by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, the Israeli leader described an ongoing process of “victories” and asserted the need to complete the war’s objectives: return all hostages, defeat Hamas, and expand the circle of peace that has emerged following what he described as a historic victory. Netanyahu did not directly comment on the 21-point plan, but his remarks reflected a broader domestic and regional effort to balance wartime objectives with diplomatic outreach.
Meanwhile, the conflict beyond Gaza intensified as Israel broadened its campaign against Iran-backed militias in the wider region. The Israel Defense Forces confirmed a wide wave of airstrikes against Houthi targets in Sana’a, Yemen, less than 24 hours after a Houthi drone struck a hotel in Eilat, wounding 24 people, two of them seriously. Saudi and Israeli media reported more than 10 strikes targeting command centers, intelligence facilities and other military sites. Israeli officials estimated that more than 50 militants were killed in the operation, which the IDF described as a major strike against Houthi capabilities. The operation involved dozens of aircraft and long-range refueling, marking the 15th strike in Yemen since the war began. Defense Minister Israel Katz called the raids a heavy blow and pledged that those who harm Israel would be harmed sevenfold.
The broader regional dynamic remains unsettled, with the Trump plan framed as a potential catalyst for negotiations even as frontline hostilities continue in Gaza and elsewhere. Witkoff said the plan addresses security concerns for Israel and regional partners alike and aims to create a pathway toward a just peace and durable regional cooperation. Observers note that how the plan is received by regional actors and Palestinian leadership could influence the pace and shape of any future negotiations.
The events unfold as the Gaza/West Bank conflict remains at the center of international diplomacy, with U.N. officials and allied governments weighing how to balance security imperatives with humanitarian needs and political rights. The administration’s push comes as Abbas indicated readiness to work with Trump and other partners to implement the peace framework, a stance that could signal a potential coalition-building effort across the region if a credible security plan can be sustained in Gaza and the West Bank.
