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The long-awaited press conference between Donald Trump and Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday produced what some are calling a breakthrough plan for Gaza and the broader Palestinian question. But short of details, a timeframe for the Israeli withdrawal and a roadmap, the plan leaves many questions unanswered, especially as it pertains to Palestinian rights and their ability to eventually be the masters of their own fate. For now, this is an American-Israeli plan, reluctantly agreed to by Arabs and with no Palestinian input whatsoever.

On the surface, it represents a rare moment of compromise from the Israeli prime minister and a rare display of American presidential determination to push to control what has become a liability (i.e., Netanyahu) to both the US and Israel. But as with many such announcements, the details matter — and those details leave plenty of room for skepticism.

As portrayed to the world, the plan outlines a framework for gradually ending Israel’s occupation. Ultimately, it leaves the issue of a Palestinian state in Gaza and the West Bank for later. While the American plan does not explicitly endorse Palestinian statehood now, nor hand the Palestinian Authority a direct role in Gaza, it avoids shutting the door. It leaves a window — however narrow — for the reinvigoration of a political horizon for Palestinians and adds to the demands of reform by the Ramallah-based Palestinian leadership if it hopes to have any future political role.

Another notable element is the introduction of international forces into Gaza. Palestinians have long demanded international protection in the Occupied Territories. This proposal sets a precedent and, if sincerely implemented, could be a first step toward that goal. It also should not be confined to Gaza — international forces are urgently needed in the West Bank as well, especially in hot spots where settler violence, with the protection of the Israeli army, is rampant.

The plan leaves a window — however narrow — for the reinvigoration of a political horizon for Palestinians

Daoud Kuttab

Perhaps most striking was the public dynamic on display. Trump dominated the event, cutting Netanyahu’s usual intransigence to size. For once, it seemed Washington was willing to use its leverage. For decades, Palestinians have insisted that peace will only come when an American president commits his full weight to making it happen. Trump’s posture, at least in this moment, gave a glimpse of that possibility. But the question remains: Will Washington sustain this enthusiasm once the hostages are released?

Still, beneath these positives lie serious concerns. The plan largely recycles proposals made to Hamas a year ago — an “all for all” deal: all hostages for an end to the war. The tragic irony is that this very formula was suggested by Hamas and available to Israeli and American negotiators long ago. More than a year of bloodshed and suffering had to pass before it was put forward again.

Crucially, there is no timeline for Israel’s withdrawal or for advancing toward a genuine political horizon for Palestinians. Hostage release is the only time-bound element; ending the war remains entirely in Israel’s hands, with no trigger or accountability mechanism. That imbalance undermines trust and makes it unlikely that Hamas will surrender its bargaining power in exchange for unenforceable promises.

Equally troubling is the vagueness surrounding international forces, governance of Gaza, the legal situation in Gaza, the speed as well as the comprehensiveness of Israel’s military withdrawals and engagement on crucial issues that are needed for daily work in Israel, and the access of people to Gaza.

Netanyahu spoke of disarming Hamas but Trump did not — leaving ambiguity about whether Israel will use its exaggerated idea of “security” as a perpetual excuse to maintain its grip and delay its total withdrawal to international borders. Already, Israel has said it will take a strip of land inside the borders of the already tiny Gaza Strip (rather than on its side) as a security buffer.

Hostage release is the only time-bound element; ending the war remains in Israel’s hands, with no accountability mechanism

Daoud Kuttab

This plan, concocted without any Palestinian input, is yet another American Middle East exercise in the top-down “reengineering” of Palestinian territories rather than fostering genuine self-determination.

Cautious optimism about Hamas’ acceptance is understandable but the vagueness and absence of guarantees make agreement in principle, while demands of clarity on the key issues of the timing and conditionality of the Israeli withdrawal, more likely. Much more intense negotiations are required before this skeleton of a plan becomes a clear roadmap that can be properly executed and managed.

Without firm commitments — especially a clear political horizon toward Palestinian statehood — the plan risks being just another delay tactic.

If there is to be real hope, it must be anchored in international law. The most practical way forward is for the UN Security Council to adopt it, creating a binding framework that holds all parties accountable based on Chapter VII of the UN Charter, which includes the provision of sanctions against countries violating UNSC resolutions. Only then can Israel — and others — be compelled to respect the commitments they make.

In the end, the Trump-Netanyahu plan reflects both progress and peril. It marks a moment of some compromise, as Netanyahu has finally blinked first, even though it leaves too much in Israel’s control and offers too few political assurances for Palestinians.

For now, the only points anchored in a timeline are the clauses connected to recovering hostages, rather than the public claims of Trump that it is a historic plan aimed at achieving lasting Middle East peace. Unless reinforced by international law and guarantees, it risks being remembered as yet another missed opportunity in a long and tragic history.

• Daoud Kuttab is an award-winning Palestinian journalist and former Ferris Professor of Journalism at Princeton University. He is the author of “State of Palestine Now: Practical and Logical Arguments for the Best Way to Bring Peace to the Middle East.” X: @daoudkuttab