Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared on August 9 that Israel will not withdraw its forces from Gaza until Hamas is fully disarmed, rejecting the 15-point Peace Council plan for the enclave.
Netanyahu specified that genuine disarmament requires Hamas to relinquish all weapons, including heavy arms. He emphasized that this process must be real and not a sham.
The Prime Minister noted that Israel is discussing concerns with the United States, stating that not all U.S.-proposed solutions align with Israeli interests. Netanyahu confirmed that the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) will continue to counter threats.
This announcement follows a July 30 agreement announced by former U.S. President Donald Trump, which reportedly called for disarming Hamas and transferring Gaza under a new Palestinian government. According to reports, this deal was expected to provide Israel security guarantees while ending Gaza’s use as a terrorist base.
Former U.S. Deputy National Security Adviser Mark Pfeiffl observed that Israeli military operations in Gaza after Hamas accepted the disarmament terms indicate Netanyahu’s unwillingness to honor commitments from the Peace Council.
Additionally, over 600 Palestinians have been killed in Gaza since the ceasefire began.
