Hamas announced plans to disarm, but an Israeli official recently stated the country continues to have “serious security concerns.”
This rejection impacts peace negotiations brokered by the Trump administration since September. The U.S. president had characterized the plan, now dismissed by Israel, as a “critical step towards Gaza being governed by a new Palestinian government” and providing Israel “the security it deserves.”
Israel is unlikely to withdraw significant forces or make concessions before the October legislative elections. Netanyahu faces a challenging reelection with his far-right coalition partners advocating for continued pressure on Hamas and maintaining forces in Gaza. Critics accuse him of failing to thwart the Oct. 7, 2023, Hamas-led attack on Israeli communities, resulting in about 1,200 civilian deaths and 251 hostages. Israel retaliated with a severe military offensive, reportedly killing over 73,000 people, according to the Gaza Health Ministry.
Netanyahu stated on Sunday that he is in talks with U.S. officials on next steps. “They have ideas, with some acceptable to us and some not, and we know how to stand up to these things,” he said.
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