The political world is alight with anticipation and excitement after President Donald Trump released his 20-point peace proposal for Gaza, built around three central pillars: immediate de-escalation, humanitarian relief and redevelopment, and a long-term political framework.

First, the plan calls for a complete ceasefire and Israeli withdrawal from active operations in exchange for the release of all hostages held by Hamas — alive and dead — within 72 hours of Israel’s acceptance. This exchange would also include the return of almost 2,000 Palestinian prisoners. Hamas members who renounce violence could receive amnesty or safe passage abroad, while those remaining would be required to decommission weapons under international monitoring. Importantly, the proposal sets a clear standard: Gaza must become a “terror-free” zone with no militant infrastructure, with Israel committing not to annex or occupy Gaza once security conditions are met.

Second, the plan focuses heavily on humanitarian aid and economic revitalization. Aid would flow in immediately under international supervision, while a transitional governance system would be established — a technocratic Palestinian committee overseen by an international “Board of Peace” chaired by Trump himself, with figures like Tony Blair — yes, the man who set Iraq on fire — also involved. This body would coordinate reconstruction, create a special economic zone and attract investment, modeled on other “miracle cities” in the Middle East, envisioning an international stabilization force to secure Gaza alongside newly trained Palestinian police, while Israel gradually withdraws.

Finally, the proposal outlines a political horizon. Hamas would be excluded from governance, and Gaza’s future leadership would eventually transition to a reformed Palestinian Authority, with calls for regional guarantees, interfaith dialogue, and a U.S.-led process to define a path toward Palestinian self-determination and statehood.

In short, the proposal mixes carrots (aid, investment, amnesty, freedom of movement) with sticks (demilitarization, Hamas exclusion, security enforcement), aiming to end the war while positioning Trump as the central broker of Gaza’s future.

Sounds great! There’s only one small problem: the only sticks Hamas cares about are those that can be used to kill more Jews.

When it comes to Hamas — you know, the bloodthirsty terrorist group who started this war after committing the deadliest pogrom in history since the fall of Nazi Germany — the plan would allow any Hamas members who “commit to peaceful co-existence and to decommission their weapons” to receive amnesty and be permitted to leave safely, while preventing Hamas and other factions from maintaining any governing control over Gaza (guaranteed by regional partners).

Except … Hamas has no intention of giving up any power, let alone peaceful co-existence with Jews.

Yes, in a perfect world, this agreement appears to be a reasonable solution to a brutal war in Gaza that, while entirely justified, has caused widespread suffering and destruction. But we do not live in a perfect world. Instead, we live in a world inhabited by the ideology of radical Islam that plays by entirely different rules, and views the suffering of its own civilians as a crucial and beneficial strategy of war.

Even if Hamas agrees to this proposal — which they won’t — don’t be fooled: they will never accept defeat, because to do so would be to accept that their entire worldview is bogus. When Hamas — with the continued support of the Palestinian people, lest we forget — is motivated by the destruction of Israel, anything less than the continuation of Oct. 7 is unacceptable.

We should all pray for peace, of course, but with the understanding that peace can only be achieved once we achieve something infinitely harder: the vanquishing of Palestinian terrorism. And for that, it’s going to take much more than pen, paper and Tony Blair.

Ian Haworth is a political commentator known for using facts, logic and a hint of British humor to fight for true conservative values.