Israel has conveyed its concerns to the United States regarding a plan endorsed by former President Donald Trump aimed at ending the ongoing conflict in Gaza, as military operations continue within the Palestinian territory. The development highlights a growing divide between Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Trump, despite Netanyahu’s vocal promotion of his ties with the former US president amid his challenging reelection campaign scheduled for October.
Netanyahu’s office, through spokesman Doron Spielman, criticized the publicly released framework, saying it does not align with Israel’s positions. Officials asserted that Israeli intelligence had identified ongoing efforts by Hamas to rearm and recruit fighters following a ceasefire announced last October. Although the truce has lowered overall violence, Israel maintains control over more than 60 percent of Gaza, a figure that has increased since the ceasefire was implemented.
Trump hailed the move toward Hamas disarmament, describing it as a “major milestone” in resolving the conflict that escalated after Hamas’s attack on Israel on October 7, 2023. Trump also stated that Israel was “very happy” with the progress, though Netanyahu has not publicly commented on the plan. The roadmap released by the US-backed Board of Peace calls for Israel to cease military operations fully and without delay, with a phased Israeli withdrawal conditional upon verified disarmament by Hamas.
On the ground, the situation remains tense and violent. Israeli strikes over the weekend and into Monday reportedly killed at least 19 Palestinians, including women and children. Palestinian authorities said one recent Israeli airstrike destroyed significant medical supplies in Gaza. Israel maintains that Hamas uses civilian areas to hide weapons and militants and has targeted arms depots across the territory. The Israeli military also identified two men killed recently as operatives planning attacks against Israeli civilians and soldiers.
Hamas has rejected the term “disarmament” but indicated willingness to place weapons under the control of a nascent, US-backed Palestinian governing committee, contingent upon Israel halting military actions and withdrawing forces. The organization insists that Israeli withdrawals must precede any reduction in its armed presence. Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz underscored that Israeli troops will not pull back until Hamas’s weapons and tunnels are fully neutralized.
The ongoing expansion of Israeli-controlled zones within Gaza has forced many Palestinians to flee their homes, with reports of several displacement orders along the border areas. Residents describe their situation as increasingly dire, with repeated displacements and widespread destruction of infrastructure and homes. Humanitarian agencies have documented thousands of casualties since the ceasefire, with Palestinian health authorities reporting over 1,200 deaths among Palestinians, mostly civilians. Israeli casualties during this period include five soldiers and one civilian contractor.
The divergent approaches to the Gaza situation reflect broader disagreements between Trump and Israeli officials, including skepticism from Israel regarding Trump’s diplomatic initiatives relating to Iran, a third party in the regional conflict. Meanwhile, Israel’s President Isaac Herzog, whose role is largely ceremonial, expressed cautious optimism about Trump’s efforts, emphasizing that any lasting peace requires the thorough disarmament of Hamas.
As discussions continue, the conflicting demands regarding military withdrawal and disarmament underscore the complex realities on the ground and the challenges facing diplomatic efforts to bring a lasting resolution to the Gaza conflict.