US pressure mounts: Kushner arrives in Israel demanding Netanyahu implement Gaza plan

The United Arab Emirates and eight other nations denounced Israel's refusal to accept President Donald Trump's proposed plan to resolve the conflict in the Gaza Strip. This stance emerged a week after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu dismissed a 15-point plan, insisting a military withdrawal would not occur until Hamas is fully disarmed.

Trump's Board of Peace had reported on July 15 that a deal for the complete disarmament of Hamas and other armed factions in Gaza had been reached. The foreign ministers of the UAE, Qatar, Jordan, Indonesia, Pakistan, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, and Egypt released a joint statement on Sunday, during which Trump's envoy Jared Kushner and the Board of Peace envoy Nickolay Mladenov were in Egypt for discussions on ceasefire-related matters.

Trump had previously announced a breakthrough on a 15-point roadmap aimed at ending the Gaza conflict, which involves Israeli troops withdrawing in exchange for Hamas relinquishing its weapons, followed by an international stabilization force working alongside a new Palestinian police force to secure the territory. The foreign ministers declared Israel's rejection of the roadmap as a direct violation of the Comprehensive Plan, threatening to disrupt extensive US efforts to achieve peace in Gaza and the Occupied Palestinian Territory.

They emphasized that Israel now bears responsibility for hindering peace efforts. Hamas, while avoiding using the term "disarmament," expressed its intention to surrender weapons to a new Palestinian governing body under the Board of Peace's supervision. Khalil al-Hayya, the leader of the group, designated as a terrorist organization by several countries and the EU, attended Gaza ceasefire-related talks in Cairo on Sunday.

US envoys Kushner and Mladenov were also in Egypt, meeting with mediators from Egypt, Qatar, and Turkey to discuss the implementation of the deal. Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu stated that Israel continued to engage in discussions with Washington, acknowledging some aspects of the peace plan were acceptable, yet firmly asserting their right to defend their positions.

Despite Netanyahu's comments, the foreign ministers urged the Board of Peace and the US to take immediate and concrete steps to preserve the Comprehensive Plan's integrity and prevent any party from obstructing its implementation.