Netanyahu: Israel has not yet approved the Washington-backed Gaza plan

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated that Israel has not yet approved the US plan to end the war in Gaza, despite receiving assurances that the Israeli withdrawal from the Strip would not begin until Hamas is completely disarmed.

The Palestinian movement reiterated on Wednesday that it has agreed to the roadmap announced by US President Donald Trump, which pertains to the second phase of his peace plan, linking Hamas’s disarmament to a gradual withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza.

However, the “Peace Council,” chaired by the US President, returned to its position amid concerns raised by Israel, particularly by far-right ministers, and assured Netanyahu after a meeting with him on Monday that Israel’s withdrawal from Gaza would not commence until Hamas’s weapons are fully removed.

In a video posted on his social media accounts on Tuesday night, Netanyahu said that the Trump team “believes it can disarm Hamas and strip Gaza of its weapons. We are studying this possibility. They sent us a draft proposal that we have not approved, as this is not our draft proposal. We have conveyed our comments to them.”

On Wednesday, during a celebration, he said, “The US President is our closest friend, and one of the greatest friends Israel has had in the White House,” but he emphasized that “Israel’s existence is non-negotiable.”

Chief of Staff of the Israeli Army Eyal Zamir confirmed in a statement on Wednesday that his forces would continue to “act proactively” in the Gaza Strip, 60 percent of which is under Israeli occupation.

Adding during his inspection of troops in the Palestinian sector, “We will not allow a threat similar to the one we witnessed on October 7, 2023, to emerge on our borders.”

The announcement of the roadmap came as Israel prepares for legislative elections scheduled for October, an event many view as a referendum on the record of outgoing Prime Minister Netanyahu, who is running for a new term.

Latest polls show that a majority of Israelis wish for Netanyahu’s departure, due to their anger over security failures linked to the October 7, 2023, Hamas attack on Israel, which sparked the war in Gaza.

According to Israeli media, Netanyahu had planned to hold a meeting of the Small Cabinet on Tuesday, but it was postponed to Thursday, coinciding with the primary elections within the Likud party, which he leads.

Regarding Hamas’s stance, its spokesperson Hazem Qasem confirmed in a statement on Wednesday that “it agrees with the Palestinian factions on the roadmap for implementing the ceasefire agreement,” following the movement’s announcement of its approval on Friday.