Israel's Netanyahu denies agreeing to US-backed Gaza plan

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has denied that his government agreed to a U.S.-backed Gaza plan, which would involve a partial Israeli military withdrawal from the territory following Hamas disarmament. In a video posted to his social media accounts Tuesday night, Netanyahu stated that the U.S. team led by former President Donald Trump believed it could achieve Hamas disarmament and Gaza demilitarization. He emphasized that the plan was not Israel’s own initiative, noting that the United States had sent a draft for review, which Israel had not accepted. During a meeting with the U.S.-backed Board of Peace on Monday, Netanyahu received assurances that the Israeli military would only need to withdraw from its current positions in Gaza once Hamas disarmed. Despite these promises, internal pressure within his governing coalition has intensified, with two far-right ministers requesting a new vote on the plan. They argued that the proposed agreement deviates from earlier discussions. The security cabinet, in which these ministers are seated, had previously approved the plan, which includes provisions for the deployment of international peacekeeping forces in the Gaza Strip. Netanyahu initially sought to convene a meeting with his Security Cabinet on Tuesday, but the session was postponed to Thursday, according to Israeli media. This delay coincides with primary voting in his Likud Party ahead of the October 27 election, in which he faces a close contest. Analyst Tal Elovits of the Israeli think tank Molad suggested that the call for a new vote by Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich and Settlement Minister Orit Strook should be interpreted as a political maneuver aimed at pressuring Netanyahu during the campaign period. Elovits noted that the Israeli right-wing has historically sought to avoid scenarios that might escalate the conflict into an international one. He pointed out that the presence of foreign peacekeepers could alter the conduct of the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF), potentially leading to more restrained operations. However, Elovits also stressed that Israel lacks the diplomatic leverage to abandon the U.S.-sponsored plan, citing the country’s limited support in global affairs. “Netanyahu has no other option but to listen to his only remaining ally in diplomacy,” he remarked, referring to Trump. According to reports from Haaretz and other Israeli media, the Israeli military has begun implementing changes to its operational procedures. Troops are now being instructed to seek approval from the chief of staff before launching attacks, unless they face immediate threats, a shift from prior guidelines that allowed such decisions to be made at the regional level. When asked about these developments, the IDF referred inquiries to the political leadership, while a spokesperson for Netanyahu chose not to provide further commentary. The evolving situation underscores the complex interplay between domestic politics and international diplomacy, with Netanyahu caught between external pressures and internal factional demands. As the October 27 election approaches, the fate of the Gaza plan remains uncertain, dependent on both political maneuvering and broader geopolitical dynamics.