The plan comes in the aftermath of President Donald Trump’s ceasefire agreement signed in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt, on October 13. The agreement, attended by leaders from over 20 nations but excluding Israel and Hamas, outlined a 20-point strategy to end hostilities, release hostages, and establish a temporary administrative board for Gaza.
The Green Zone, slated for the eastern Gaza Strip, will see redevelopment efforts and the deployment of international and Israeli forces. Initial troop levels are expected to be in the hundreds, potentially scaling up to 20,000, though foreign forces will be confined strictly within this zone. The US is reportedly seeking formal approval from the UN Security Council for this deployment. Reconstruction efforts will include humanitarian aid, special trade zones, and plans to boost employment and security.
In contrast, the Red Zone, encompassing western Gaza along the Israeli-controlled Yellow Line, will remain in ruins, housing approximately two million displaced Palestinians. No immediate rebuilding efforts are planned for this area, raising questions about the equity and long-term sustainability of the division.
Trump’s ceasefire plan also included provisions for an interim administration in Gaza, chaired by the US President, with former British Prime Minister Tony Blair among its members. The plan mandates Hamas’s exclusion from governance, dismantling of armed bases, and prisoner exchanges, alongside initiatives to strengthen border security and train local police.
The proposal has drawn scrutiny amid concerns over the feasibility of maintaining lasting peace and development. Critics note that the plan contradicts previous US assurances of a unified Gaza under Palestinian governance. Analysts also caution that the division could further complicate humanitarian access and exacerbate tensions among Gaza’s civilian population.
The ceasefire agreement emphasizes human rights, freedom of residence, and the establishment of special trade and commercial zones to stimulate economic recovery. Trump has positioned the plan as a pathway toward stabilizing Gaza and enabling long-term reconstruction while safeguarding Israeli security interests.
Observers highlight that the plan’s success will depend on cooperation among multiple international actors and adherence to its phased implementation. The Green Zone is intended as a controlled environment to facilitate reconstruction, while the Red Zone’s delayed recovery raises pressing questions about the well-being of displaced Palestinians.
As the US moves to implement the plan, the international community will closely monitor developments in Gaza, balancing security imperatives with humanitarian and political considerations.
