Hamas faces a bitter tradeoff – the proposal demands that the militant group effectively surrender in return for uncertain gains.

But if it rejects the deal, the US could give Israel an even freer hand to continue its punishing campaign in the already devastated territory.

The proposal requires the militant group to disarm in exchange for halting conflict, providing humanitarian aid to Palestinians, and pledging to rebuild Gaza—a crucial promise for its residents.

However, the proposal merely offers a vague assurance that Palestinian statehood might be considered in the future. For now, Gaza and its over two million inhabitants would fall under international control.

An international security force would be deployed, with a “Board of Peace” led by Trump and former British Prime Minister Tony Blair managing Gaza’s administration and reconstruction. Israeli troops would continue to encircle the territory.

Trump and Netanyahu said they agreed on the plan overnight after talks at the White House.

The plan features a key element strongly opposed by Netanyahu and his hard-line government: It stipulates that the Palestinian Authority will eventually take governance over Gaza.

But Netanyahu is likely betting that will never come to pass. Israel also rejects any Palestinian state.

The White House issued the text on Monday of its 20-point proposal. Here is what to know.

The proposal demands an immediate cessation of hostilities. Within 72 hours, Hamas must release all hostages it still holds, deceased or living. Currently, militants retain 48 hostages, 20 of whom are believed by Israel to be alive.

In exchange, Israel would release 250 Palestinians serving life sentences and 1700 individuals detained from Gaza since the conflict’s inception, including all women and children. Additionally, Israel would return the bodies of 15 Palestinians for each hostage’s body released.

The plan calls for an Israeli troop withdrawal. But it would only take place after Hamas disarms and as the international security force deploys to fill in areas that Israeli forces leave.

Israel would also maintain a “security perimeter presence” – a vague phrasing that could mean it would keep a buffer zone inside Gaza.

Those terms could bring pushback from Hamas, which has said it will not release all its hostages unless it receives a “clear declaration” the war will end and Israel will leave Gaza completely.

The fate of Hamas and postwar Gaza

Hamas would have no part in administering Gaza, and all its military infrastructure – including tunnels – would be dismantled. Members who pledge to live peacefully would be granted amnesty, and those who wish to leave Gaza would be allowed to.

The international security force would ensure Hamas’ disarmament and keep order. It would also train Palestinian police to take over law enforcement. Mediator Egypt has said it is training thousands of Palestinian police to deploy to Gaza.

Meanwhile, humanitarian aid would be allowed to flow into Gaza in large amounts and would be run by “neutral international bodies,” including the UN and the Red Crescent. It is unclear whether the Gaza Humanitarian Fund, a controversial alternative food distribution system backed by Israel and the US, would continue to operate.

The plan also specifies that Palestinians will not be expelled from Gaza, and that there will be an international effort to rebuild the territory for Palestinians.

In normal cases, that might not need spelling out. But Palestinians have feared mass expulsion after both Trump and the Israeli government spoke of pushing out Gaza’s population – ostensibly in a “voluntary” manner – and rebuilding the strip as a sort of international real estate venture.

The interim administration of Palestinian technocrats would run day-to-day affairs in Gaza. But it would be overseen by the “Board of Peace.” The board would also supervise funding of reconstruction, a role that could give it enormous power over governing Gaza since that is the biggest task facing the territory, almost completely destroyed by Israel’s campaign.

The Palestinian Authority and statehood

During this interim administration, the Palestinian Authority would undergo reforms so it can eventually take over governing Gaza.

The plan has only a slight nod to the issue of statehood. It says that if the Palestinian Authority reforms sufficiently and Gaza redevelopment advances, “the conditions may finally be in place for a credible pathway to Palestinian self-determination and statehood.”

Qatar’s prime minister and Egypt’s intelligence chief shared the 20-point plan Monday evening with Hamas negotiators. The Hamas negotiators said they would review it in good faith and provide a response.

Hamas has so far rejected disarmament, saying it has a right to resist until Israeli occupation of Palestinian lands ends.

Arab countries appear to back the outline. The leaders of Egypt and the United Arab Emirates met Monday in Cairo and expressed their support, saying the initiative “paves the way for achieving a lasting and comprehensive peace in the region.”

Netanyahu could face resistance from within his own ultra-nationalist coalition allies.

Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, who is part of Netanyahu’s security cabinet, published a list of his “red lines” on X on Monday. Top among them, he wrote, any deal must not allow involvement of the Palestinian Authority in Gaza or allow a Palestinian state.

Smotrich is one of the more vocal members of the right-wing bloc of Netanyahu’s coalition who have previously threatened to leave the government if Netanyahu halts the war in Gaza.

But Netanyahu may see a loophole. The proposal makes PA involvement in Gaza conditional on it completing internal reforms, and in his comments alongside Trump on Monday, Netanyahu expressed his belief it will never successfully do so.