U.S. President Donald Trump and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stood side by side at the White House on Monday to announce Israel’s agreement to an American peace plan aimed at ending the 724-day war in Gaza. But it remains uncertain whether Hamas, the only major party not involved in the negotiations, will accept the terms.

Trump laid out a 20-point proposal that he described as a “historic day for peace,” promising an immediate ceasefire and the release of all remaining hostages within 72 hours of Israel’s formal approval. The plan calls for a phased Israeli withdrawal, Hamas’ disarmament, the release of hundreds of Palestinian prisoners, and the establishment of a temporary international governing body for Gaza headed by Trump and including former British Prime Minister Tony Blair.

“This is a big, big day, a beautiful day, potentially one of the biggest days ever in civilization,” Trump said. “Things that have been going on for hundreds of years, and thousands of years, we’re at least very, very close — we’re beyond very close.”

He thanked Netanyahu for “getting in there and doing a job,” and praised Arab and Muslim leaders including those of Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Egypt, Jordan, Turkey, Pakistan and Indonesia for supporting the U.S. framework. “If accepted by Hamas, this proposal calls for the release of all remaining hostages immediately, but in no case more than 72 hours,” Trump said. “The hostages are coming back, and the bodies of young men are coming back immediately. This means the immediate end of the war itself, not just Gaza.”

Netanyahu confirmed Israel’s support and linked the deal to his government’s war aims. “The plan will achieve all our objectives,” he said, pledging that Hamas would be stripped of its political control and military capacity. But he warned: “If Hamas rejects your plan, Mr. President, or if they supposedly accept it and then 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.”

Trump added that Arab and Muslim countries were committed to ensuring Hamas’ disarmament. “All terror infrastructure will be destroyed, including tunnels and weapons production facilities,” he said. “Working with the new transitional authority in Gaza, all parties will agree on a timeline for Israeli forces to withdraw, in phases. No more shooting, hopefully.”

At the press conference, Trump repeatedly described Netanyahu as a “fighter” and said Israel had “the full backing” of the United States if Hamas rejects the plan.

The announcement followed weeks of tensions over a September 9 Israeli strike in Doha that killed a Qatari serviceman but failed to eliminate Hamas leaders gathered in the Gulf state. The strike angered Arab capitals and prompted an unusually sharp rebuke from Washington.

During his White House visit, Netanyahu spoke by phone with Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani. According to the White House, Netanyahu expressed “deep regret” for violating Qatari sovereignty and promised that Israel would not conduct such an attack again. Trump described the call as a “heart-to-heart” conversation.

Qatar’s Foreign Ministry confirmed the apology, saying the prime minister rejected violations of its sovereignty but expressed readiness to remain involved in efforts to end the Gaza war under Trump’s initiative.

At home, Netanyahu’s apology triggered criticism from far-right coalition members. National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir called the Doha strike “an important, just and ethical attack” and wrote on X, “It is very good that it happened.”

Hamas officials dismissed the plan as one-sided. Taher al-Nunu told Al Arabi TV the group had not been part of the talks and insisted that any deal must include a full Israeli withdrawal.

Mahmoud Mardawi, another Hamas official, told Al Jazeera that the plan “has not reached Hamas or any Palestinian party so far,” saying the movement first saw it only after its publication. He said the terms “are close to the Israeli position,” and described Hamas’s weapons as “meant for freedom and independence, not to attack anyone.”

Mardawi called the initiative “an attempt to choke off international momentum and recognition of a Palestinian state,” adding that its provisions were “vague and without guarantees.”

The Hostages and Missing Families Forum, representing relatives of Israelis held in Gaza, issued a statement quoting the Shehecheyanu prayer — a Jewish blessing of thanksgiving — after Trump announced Netanyahu’s acceptance.

But Netanyahu also faced criticism from the right. His former spokesman Omer Dostri, who left the post earlier this year, called the plan “an absolute failure” and said the prime minister “has no mandate to raise a white flag.” Dostri argued that the proposal paves the way for a Palestinian state and the return of the Palestinian Authority to Gaza.

Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich said earlier Monday that his Religious Zionism party would oppose any deal that allows the Palestinian Authority or Qatar to play a role in postwar Gaza.

The White House said Trump’s 20-point plan was refined after input from Arab and Muslim leaders. Notably, the plan’s earlier 21-point draft was shortened after edits by regional governments, dropping a clause that explicitly barred Israel from future strikes in Qatar.

According to Arab diplomats, Saudi Arabia warned Trump that it would not normalize ties with Israel or expand the Abraham Accords unless Israel commits to a two-state solution and the creation of a viable Palestinian state.

Trump, who during his 2024 campaign vowed to quickly end the Gaza war, insisted Monday that the U.S. is “very confident” a deal is close. But he made clear that if Hamas refuses, “Israel would have the absolute right and actually our full backing to finish the job of destroying the threat of Hamas.”