Netanyahu says Israel disagrees with US plan for Gaza; "it is not our draft"

Benjamin Netanyahu, prime minister of Israel, has expressed disagreement with a U.S.-backed plan aimed at ending the conflict in Gaza, stating that the proposal does not align with Israeli interests. The plan, announced by President Donald Trump on Thursday, calls for the disarming of the Islamist group Hamas and the subsequent withdrawal of Israeli forces from Palestinian territory. Hamas confirmed its acceptance of the agreement hours after its announcement. In a video posted on his social media accounts late Tuesday, Netanyahu criticized the Trump administration’s approach, asserting that the team believes it can achieve the disarmament of Hamas and the demilitarization of Gaza. “We are verifying this,” he said. “They sent us a draft: we did not agree with it, it is not our draft. We sent our comments.” This statement highlights the growing tension between Israeli leadership and the U.S. initiative, which seeks to impose conditions on both sides. Netanyahu met with the U.S.-supported Peace Council on Monday and was assured that the Israeli military would only be required to withdraw from its current positions in Gaza following Hamas’s disarmament. However, the prime minister faces increasing pressure from coalition partners on the far right to reject the deal. On Wednesday, Chief of Staff Lieutenant General Eyal Zamir stated that the Israeli army will continue to take proactive measures in the Gaza Strip, which it controls over 60%. Zamir emphasized during a visit to troops in the territory that Israel will not allow threats to its borders, referencing the October 7, 2023 attack that triggered the war. Two ministers from the far-right faction requested a new vote on the plan, arguing that it deviates from initial discussions. Their move is seen as part of broader political maneuvering ahead of upcoming internal party elections within the Likud Party. The Israeli security cabinet, including Finance Minister Betsalel Smotrich and Minister of Settlements Orith Struk, had previously approved the Trump plan, which includes the deployment of international peacekeeping forces in Gaza. Despite these approvals, the political landscape remains volatile, with Netanyahu navigating complex domestic pressures while maintaining diplomatic ties with the United States. Tal Elovits, a researcher at the Israeli think tank Molad, suggested that the request from the two ministers should be interpreted as a campaign strategy aimed at pressuring Netanyahu. He noted that Israel’s international isolation makes rejecting the plan difficult. “Netanyahu has little choice but to listen to the only friend he has left in the diplomatic community,” Elovits remarked, underscoring the strategic importance of the U.S. alliance for Israel.