Gaza plan at risk, again

The Israeli prime minister's public rejection of the US-backed Gaza roadmap has once again placed the peace process at risk. Benjamin Netanyahu declared that Israeli troops would not withdraw from Gaza until Hamas is "genuinely disarmed," directly contradicting a key component of the 15-point plan brokered by the United States.

President Trump had announced the agreement on the plan in July, hailing it as a "major milestone." The document aimed to move the peace process forward by outlining specific commitments for both sides. Notably, it required Israel to end military operations and abide by its obligations under the Sharm el-Sheikh Memorandum. It also called on Hamas and other Palestinian factions to cease military actions.

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genuinely disarmed

The 15-point framework also detailed governance for Gaza, assigning responsibilities to the National Committee for the Administration of Gaza (NCAG), a transitional body composed of Palestinian technocrats. The plan mandated that NCAG must enter Gaza and assume day-to-day governance within a specified timetable. This involved reciprocal steps, linking the decommissioning of armed militias like Hamas to a phased Israeli withdrawal from Gaza.

Netanyahu's wholesale rejection of the plan threatens to derail the fragile peace process, making the ceasefire's fate uncertain. While Hamas agreed to the plan and consented to disarm in stages, they reiterated their commitment after Israel's rejection and urged mediators to prevent ceasefire violations. Some Western analysts attribute Netanyahu's opposition to electoral politics, with general elections due soon, though others suggest a deeper lack of commitment from Israel to the plan.

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major milestone