Gaza is initiating another chapter in its extensive history of attempts at peacebuilding

Arab nations are actively working to formulate a pragmatic strategy for the future of Gaza in response to U.S. President Donald Trump’s proposal, which suggests that the United States would assume control over the territory while displacing its Palestinian residents to Egypt and Jordan.

The following outlines key Middle East peace initiatives since the Six-Day War in 1967, during which Israel captured the West Bank, East Jerusalem, the Sinai Peninsula, the Gaza Strip, and the Golan Heights:

1967 – U.N. Security Council Resolution 242

The U.N. calls for the “withdrawal of Israeli armed forces from territories occupied in the recent conflict” in exchange for mutual respect for sovereignty, territorial integrity, and independence among all states.

1978 – Camp David Agreement

Israel and Egypt establish a framework that culminates in a 1979 treaty mandating Israel’s withdrawal from Sinai, marking the first peace agreement between Israel and an Arab nation.

1991 – Madrid Summit

Delegates from Israel and the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) participate in a peace conference. Although no agreements are finalized, the groundwork is laid for future direct negotiations.

1993-95 – Oslo Accords

Israel and the PLO reach a consensus during secret discussions in Norway, resulting in an interim peace agreement that acknowledges each party’s “mutual, legitimate, and political rights.” The accord outlines provisions for Palestinian elections, self-governance during a five-year transitional phase, Israeli troop withdrawals, and discussions regarding a permanent resolution.

1994 – Israel-Jordan agreement

In 1994, Jordan became the second Arab nation to formalize a peace treaty with Israel. However, this agreement faced significant unpopularity, as pro-Palestinian sentiments were prevalent among the Jordanian populace.

2000 – Camp David summit

In 2000, a summit at Camp David brought together Israeli and Palestinian leaders in the United States, but they were unable to reach a consensus, leading to a subsequent Palestinian uprising.

2002 – Saudi Plan

In 2002, Saudi Arabia introduced a peace initiative endorsed by the Arab League, which called for Israel’s complete withdrawal from occupied territories and the recognition of a Palestinian state in exchange for normalized relations with Arab nations.

2007 – Annapolis summit

The Annapolis summit in 2007 saw Palestinian and Israeli leaders once again fail to achieve an agreement, which was soon followed by a conflict in Gaza in 2008.

2009 – Netanyahu’s Bar-Ilan address

In 2009, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu delivered a speech at Bar-Ilan University, expressing his willingness to support a peace agreement that would establish a demilitarized Palestinian state, contingent upon Palestinian recognition of Israel as the “state of the Jewish people.”

2020 – Abraham Accords

The Abraham Accords in 2020 marked a significant development, as leaders from Israel, the United Arab Emirates, and Bahrain reached an agreement to normalize relations in September. This was followed by Israel and Sudan announcing their intention to normalize ties in October, and Morocco establishing diplomatic relations with Israel in December.