Netanyahu rejects Trump’s Gaza plan while quietly implementing it
Even as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says that he rejects US President Donald Trump’s Gaza reconstruction plan, Israel is advancing its implementation.
TEL AVIV — Israel is so far complying with the terms of US President Donald Trump’s Gaza peace plan, a top Israeli diplomatic source confirmed to Al-Monitor, speaking on condition of anonymity.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu rejected Trump’s 15-point Gaza plan on Sunday, but the source insisted that Israel has taken steps to facilitate its implementation. On July 26, the Israeli cabinet authorized the entry of a first group of foreign troops into Gaza, in accordance with Trump's plan. The contingent is set to start restoring basic services for residents of the southern Rafah area. According to security sources, the Israeli military under US pressure has also suspended the targeting of Hamas militants.
The Board of Peace formed by Trump to implement the plan and oversee the post-conflict governance, reconstruction and security of the Strip praised Israel on Monday for adhering to the terms of the deal with Hamas, contradicting Netanyahu’s statement.
“I wish to be precise here: Israel does not accept the 15-point document,” Netanyahu told his cabinet on Sunday in response to pressure from hard-line ministers to reject the plan. “The Israeli forces will not carry out any withdrawal until Hamas is disarmed. And when I say the disarming of Hamas, it means heavy weaponry, lighter weaponry, all weaponry. And we are talking about genuine disarmament, not fictitious disarmament.”
