- Donald Trump announced a Gaza peace plan involving Hamas disarmament.
- Netanyahu stated 'Not Our Draft' and emphasized that he did not agree to the US-backed Gaza plan.
- Two far-right ministers requested a new vote on the plan, saying it did not reflect earlier discussions, while Israel's security cabinet had already voted in favour of the proposal, including the deployment of international peacekeeping troops in Gaza.
- The request from Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich and Settlement Minister Orit Strook was viewed by researcher Tal Elovits as "a campaign move" to pressure Netanyahu.
- Elovits said Israel has no concrete possibility of tearing up the US-sponsored plan and that Netanyahu has no other option besides listening to Trump.
- Elovits said Netanyahu is not a very active player and can only try to block ideas, while US pressure on Israel to curb attacks in Gaza appears to be yielding results.
- Troops have been instructed to seek authorisation from the Chief of Staff for strikes, unless in "immediate danger"; Israel's military referred AFP to the "political echelon".
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has publicly rejected a US-backed peace plan for Gaza, stating, "We are checking this. They sent us a draft - we did not agree to it, it is not our draft." This plan, which includes Hamas disarmament and the deployment of international peacekeeping troops, was discussed during a meeting with the US-backed Board of Peace.12345
Netanyahu received assurances that any Israeli military withdrawal would only occur after Hamas disarms. However, two far-right ministers have called for a new vote on the plan, claiming it does not reflect prior discussions. This request is seen as a campaign move to pressure Netanyahu ahead of the upcoming elections on October 27.
According to Tal Elovits, a researcher at Israeli think tank Molad, Israel lacks the ability to reject the US-sponsored plan due to its international isolation. He noted, "Netanyahu has no other option besides listening to his only friend left in the diplomatic community," referring to President Trump. Elovits added, "Netanyahu is not a very active player here - he's an active player maybe in trying to block some ideas, but Israel is not putting anything on the table."678910
Reports indicate that US pressure on Israel to limit military actions in Gaza is having an effect, with troops now required to seek authorization for strikes unless in immediate danger, a shift from previous directives.
Israel's military has not commented on these developments, referring inquiries to the political echelon.
“Netanyahu met the US-backed Board of Peace on Monday, receiving guarantees the army would leave only after Hamas disarms. The cabinet vote was postponed to Thursday amid Likud primaries, as two far-right ministers sought a new vote — a move researcher Tal Elovits called “a campaign move.””
