Trump Signals Optimism on Gaza Talks as Washington Backs Tony Blair’s Postwar Plan
The US President, Donald Trump, has touted progress in negotiations to reach a ceasefire agreement in Gaza and release the remaining hostages.
This comes as British and Israeli media are reporting that the White House backs a plan involving former UK Prime Minister, Tony Blair, running a postwar transitional authority in the Strip.
‘Intense’ Gaza Talks
On Friday, the US President pointed to “very inspired and productive discussions” with Middle Eastern partners regarding Gaza.
“Intense negotiations have been going on for four days, and will continue for as long as necessary in order to get a Successfully Completed Agreement,” he wrote on Truth Social.
Trump added that all countries in the region are involved in the talks, with Hamas and Israel aware of the discussions. The US President will meet the Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, at the White House on September 29.
“There is more Goodwill and Enthusiasm for getting a Deal done, after so many decades, than I have ever seen before,” he said, concluding his post with a call for releasing the hostages.
“We must get the Hostages back, and get a PERMANENT AND LONGLASTING PEACE!” Trump said.
Multilateral Meeting
On the sidelines of the UN General Assembly, the US President held on Tuesday a multilateral summit with leaders and officials from Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Qatar, Egypt, Jordan, Türkiye, Indonesia and Pakistan to discuss a peace plan for Gaza.
The meeting focused on exploring ways to end the war in Gaza, reach a comprehensive ceasefire agreement, release the hostages, and tackle the worsening humanitarian crisis in the Strip.
On Friday, Trump suggested that a Gaza deal was close, Reuters reported. “It’s looking like we have a deal on Gaza. I think it’s a deal that gets the hostages back, it’s going to be a deal that ends the war,” he told reporters at the White House.
Gaza Peace Plan
During his meeting with Arab and Muslim leaders, Trump presented a “21-point peace plan” for Gaza and the Middle East, according to his Special Envoy, Steve Witkoff, who signaled an imminent “breakthrough.”
“We had a very productive session. We presented what we call the Trump 21-point plan for peace in the Mideast and Gaza. I think it addresses Israeli concerns and, as well, the concerns of all the neighbors in the region,” he said on Wednesday.
The peace plan centers around several main points, including the release of all the remaining hostages; a permanent ceasefire; gradual withdrawal of Israeli troops from Gaza; and a postwar plan that excludes Hamas from governance.
It also involves establishing a security force involving Palestinian, Arab and Muslim soldiers; funding from Arab and Muslim countries for Gaza reconstruction; and some role for the Palestinian Authority.
Arab Backing
In response to Trump’s proposed plan, Arab leaders made several demands to support it. These demands included no Israeli annexation of the West Bank, no Israeli occupation or settlements in Gaza, maintaining the status quo for Jerusalem, in addition to increasing humanitarian aid to Gaza.
Moreover, Arab states have emphasized they will only take part in a UN-mandated international peacekeeping force if there is a clear political timeline to the formation of a Palestinian state, according to the Guardian.
After their meeting with the US President, they issued a joint statement supporting Trump’s plan.
“We reaffirm our commitment to cooperate with President Trump and emphasize the importance of his leadership in order to end the war and open horizons for a just and lasting peace,” they said.
Tony Blair’s Potential Role
According to BBC, the White House is backing a plan that will see the former UK Prime Minister, Tony Blair, leading a post-war transitional authority in Gaza – supported by the UN and Gulf countries – before handing control to the Palestinian Authority (PA).
Under the plan, Blair will run a body called the Gaza International Transitional Authority (Gita) that will seek a UN mandate to be Gaza’s “supreme political and legal authority” for five years.
The plan follows the model of administrations that oversaw East Timor and Kosovo’s transitions to statehood. It envisages “the eventual unifying of all the Palestinian territory under the PA.” The plan, however, does not involve any forced displacement of the people of Gaza.
In August 2025, Blair took part in a White House meeting with Trump, Witkoff, the US Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, and Trump’s son-in-law, Jared Kushner, to discuss postwar plans for Gaza.
The news of the plan followed the UNGA approval of the New York Declaration, which supports the two-state solution and calls for a technocratic administration to rule Gaza for one year before handing power to a reformed PA.
In the light of this, the Guardian reported that the French president, Emmanuel Macron, has been trying to reconcile the two proposals.
Furthermore, Trump expressed strong opposition to Israeli annexation of parts of the West Bank. “I will not allow Israel to annex the West Bank. Nope. I won’t allow it. It’s not going to happen,” he said on Thursday.
