Israel did not agree to US-backed Gaza plan - Netanyahu

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has stated that Israel did not agree to the US-backed plan for Gaza, despite assurances that an Israeli withdrawal would only occur after Hamas disarms. Addressing his social media accounts, Netanyahu claimed that the US team, led by President Donald Trump, believed they could achieve disarmament of Hamas and demilitarisation of Gaza. However, Netanyahu's team had provided feedback on the draft plan, which they did not regard as their own.

Netanyahu met with the US-backed Board of Peace on Monday, receiving assurances that the Israeli army would only withdraw from Gaza once Hamas disarms. Nevertheless, pressure has mounted on Netanyahu from the right-wing faction of his coalition to reject the deal. Two far-right ministers recently called for a new vote, arguing that the agreement does not align with their initial discussions.

An Israeli security cabinet, of which these ministers are part, had already approved the proposal, which would see international peacekeeping troops deployed in Gaza.

The meeting between Netanyahu and the Board of Peace was postponed until tomorrow, as primary voting in Netanyahu's Likud Party is underway ahead of the general elections on 27 October. Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich and Settlement Minister Orit Strook requested the new vote, potentially using it as a political maneuver to put pressure on Netanyahu.

Tal Elovits, a researcher at Israeli think tank Molad, suggested that the right-wing has historically tried to avoid scenarios where the conflict escalates into an international conflict.

Given Israel's international isolation, Elovits concluded that tearing up the US-sponsored plan is not feasible. Netanyahu has reportedly no alternative but to comply with his remaining diplomatic ally, President Trump. Netanyahu is not an active player in these negotiations, merely obstructing certain ideas, but Israel is not offering any proposals, according to Elovits.

Recent reports indicate that US pressure on Israel to minimize attacks in Gaza prior to a partial withdrawal under the plan has yielded results. Israeli military sources have confirmed that troops are now required to obtain authorization from the Chief of Staff for strikes, except in immediate danger, a departure from previous directives that only required permission from the head of the regional command.