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 the Palestinian Hamas movement is truly disarmed.
In his statement, Netanyahu clarified that disarmament requires Hamas to no longer possess heavy weapons or any type of arms. He emphasized that the process must be genuine and not fabricated.
Additionally, Netanyahu noted that Israel is discussing its concerns with the United States, though he stressed that not all U.S. proposals are acceptable to Israel. The Prime Minister also affirmed that the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) will continue operations to counter threats.
More than 600 Palestinians have been killed in Gaza since the ceasefire began. On July 30, Trump announced an agreement aimed at disarming Hamas and other groups in the Gaza Strip, with the territory transferred under a new Palestinian government. This arrangement was intended to provide Israel with security guarantees and end Gaza’s use as a terrorist launchpad.
Former U.S. Deputy National Security Adviser Mark Pfeiffl observed that Israeli military operations in Gaza following Hamas’s acceptance of the disarmament agreement indicate Netanyahu’s unwillingness to fulfill commitments proposed by the Peace Council.
