Netanyahu Rejects US-Backed Gaza Peace Plan

Hamas political chief Khalil al-Hayya led a delegation to Cairo on August 16 to meet with Egyptian intelligence chief Hassan Rashad. The talks focus on a 15-point peace plan proposed by the Board of Peace, which requires Hamas and other armed groups to hand over their weapons to a new Palestinian governing committee.

While Hamas officials claim they have accepted the roadmap and are calling for U.S. pressure on Israel to comply, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu formally rejected the plan during a cabinet meeting. Netanyahu stated that the Israel Defense Forces will not withdraw from the Gaza Strip until Hamas is genuinely disarmed. This position persists despite earlier suggestions from Board of Peace representative Nickolay Mladenov regarding a phased withdrawal.

U.S. President Donald Trump described the proposal as a historic agreement intended to ensure Gaza is no longer used as a base for terror attacks. To bridge the gap between the parties, Special Envoy Jared Kushner, accompanied by Nickolay Mladenov and Tony Blair, is scheduled to visit Israel and Egypt next week. Meanwhile, Israeli military operations continue in Gaza, and Defense Minister Israel Katz announced that troops will remain in security zones in Lebanon and Syria.