Trump's Gaza Peace Plan Faces Hurdles Amidst Humanitarian Crisis

Sat Dec 13 2025 20:18:12 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

As peace negotiations stall, families in Gaza seek shelter from storm damage and continue to endure immense hardships while trapped in limbo between conflict and recovery.

The peace plan proposed by former President Trump is struggling to make headway as both Israel and Hamas grapple with difficult decisions. Displaced families in Gaza face growing humanitarian challenges, compounded by heavy rains and reconstruction delays. The search for missing hostages further complicates negotiations for peace, leaving both sides hesitant to move forward.

A steady stream of water trickles through openings in the tent Ghadir al-Adham shares with her husband and six children in Gaza City. Her family is still displaced after the war and waiting for reconstruction to begin.

Here we are, living a life of humiliation, she told the BBC. We want caravans. We want our homes rebuilt. We long for concrete to keep us warm. Every day I sit and cry for my children.

Two months into an American-imposed ceasefire, Gaza is stuck in the first phase of Donald Trump's peace plan - its territory divided between the warring parties, its people still displaced and surrounded by rubble.

Heavy rain has deluged camps and led several buildings to collapse, as a powerful winter storm sweeps through the Strip. More than 800,000 Gazans are at risk from flooding, the UN says.

Sticking point

Plans for new homes - and new government - lie frozen in the next stage of US President Donald Trump's peace deal, as the search continues for Israel's last missing hostage, Ran Gvili.

Israel's Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, has insisted Hamas must return all Israel's hostages – living and dead – before the two sides move on to the next, more difficult, stage of the peace deal. But several searches of Gaza's rubble have shown no sign of him since he was captured during the 7 October Hamas attacks.

The road to their home in Meitar, in southern Israel, is lined with banners in tribute to him, the yellow flags of remembrance for Israel's hostages fluttering alongside. His parents believe Hamas wants to keep their son as a bargaining chip.

Time 'running out'

With both Israel and Hamas needing to make difficult concessions, fears are rising that delays could solidify the status quo, leaving Gaza in a precarious state. As negotiations stall, the humanitarian situation in Gaza worsens, underscoring the urgency for all parties to act.

Trump eager to move fast

Despite the challenges, Trump continues to express a desire to push the peace process forward, aiming to establish a 'Board of Peace' for Gaza. However, key issues such as disarming Hamas remain unresolved, posing significant barriers to achieving lasting peace and stability in the region.