A 20-point peace plan proposed by President Donald Trump this week could finally conclude the nearly two-year war in the Gaza Strip and see the return of the 46 hostages still held by Hamas. But it could also mean an end to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s time in the Israeli government’s top job.
Hamas still needs to agree to the plan that Netanyahu accepted on Monday, which would ultimately end Israel’s military operation, disarm Hamas and pave the way for the reconstruction of the Gaza Strip under a Palestinian governing body overseen by an international coalition headed by Trump.
Trump said this could be the Israeli prime minister’s “crowning achievement,” but Netanyahu’s acceptance of the plan could ultimately determine whether his government collapses or finds renewed support.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu meets with IDF commanders in the Netzarim Corridor in Gaza to discuss Hamas activity on Nov. 19, 2024. (Photo provided by TPS)
“In my estimation, it will end in tears,” he said in a post in X. “A tragedy of leadership fleeing from the truth.”
While Netanyahu faces immense pressure within his own party among those who believe he has conceded security demands, he also faces immense opposition among the public.
His inability to secure a hostage deal and his continued aggressive military operations in Gaza have prompted many Israelis to question whether Netanyahu has prioritized military operations, and perhaps his political ambitions, over the return of the hostages who have been held for 725 days.
Hannah pointed out that it would have been “disastrous” for Netanyahu not to accept Trump’s plan, given Israel’s growing isolationism on the global stage, but also amid rocky politics at home.
“It’s absolutely imperative for Israel’s long-term security and, frankly, for Netanyahu’s political future to keep the U.S. and Trump on side,” he said, noting that Trump enjoys more popularity among Israelis than Netanyahu does.
Approval ratings have repeatedly shown Netanyahu would be unlikely to survive an election were it to happen in the immediate term.
“If you think predicting American elections is hard, you can’t even imagine predicting Israeli elections given its multi-party parliamentary system,” Richard Goldberg, senior advisor with the Foundation for Defense of Democracies told Fox News Digital. “In the end, President Trump and Prime Minister Netanyahu appear more focused on substance than politics, with a deal that would get all the hostages out, force Hamas to surrender and protect Israel’s long-term security.”
It is unclear how public opinion of Netanyahu could be reshaped by his acceptance of Trump’s plan, particularly if Hamas also agrees to it and the hostages could be returned within 72-hours, as is stipulated under the proposal following a joint agreement.
Netanyahu’s chief opposition and former prime minister, Yair Lapid, said the number one threat facing the success of the plan is a “yes, but” approach.
Protesters hold photos of hostages as they march during a rally calling for the Israeli government to sign a deal to release hostages held in the Gaza Strip on Aug. 26, 2025, in Tel Aviv, Israel. (Amir Levy/Getty Images)
“What threatens the plan now is not the people who say ‘no,’ like Ben-Gvir or the Iranians, but the people who say ‘yes, but’,” he said on X. “Netanyahu is a seasoned and exhausting expert in ‘yes, but.’ Usually, he says the ‘yes’ in Washington, standing in front of cameras at the White House, feeling like a groundbreaking statesman, and the ‘but’ when he returns home and the ‘base’ reminds him who’s boss.”
Other opposition leaders backed Netanyahu’s agreement to the plan, including leader of the Blue and White Party, Benny Gantz, who said his party “would not allow petty politics to sabotage the plan.”
While it is unclear how Israel will respond to Netanyahu should a deal be reached, Goldberg argued that ultimately the deal is a win for Israel.
“The devil is always in the details, and we are short on details, but from a principles perspective, this would be a clear Israeli victory,” Goldberg said. “When you add on the requirements for demilitarization and deradicalization in Gaza and a fundamental overhaul of the Palestinian Authority, alongside a path to Saudi-Israel normalization, all the topline principles and goals align with Israel’s security interests and war objectives.”
