Senior officials in Trump’s Board of Peace rejected Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s declaration Monday that Israel was rejecting the 15-point document, telling ynet that Israel’s actions on the ground show otherwise.
“We look at what is actually happening, less at statements and declarations,” the officials said. “In practice, Israel has stopped the targeted killings and is maintaining the ceasefire.”
Benjamin Netanyahu with Mladenov, head of the Board of Peace: ‘Israel is implementing the document in practice’
(Photo: GPO)
The officials said Israel is, in effect, complying with the 15-point agreement. “The IDF is in practice standing on the original Yellow Line, 53% of the Strip, and there are no posts or forces beyond the Yellow Line,” they said. “Israel is implementing the 15-point document, even though in its statements it rejects it.”
They added that Israel would benefit diplomatically if its public declarations matched its actions. “Of course, it would have been better for Israel if the declarations matched the actions on the ground, and it would have enjoyed the diplomatic advantage of complying with the terms of the agreement.”
Last October, Israel agreed to Trump’s 20-point plan to end the war in Gaza, which was published immediately after a meeting between Trump and Netanyahu. The plan included the release of the remaining hostages held by Hamas, a ceasefire, the entry of aid into Gaza and a pledge that Israel would neither occupy nor annex the Strip.
According to details published at the time, as the international force established control and stability, the IDF would withdraw according to milestones and conditions agreed upon between the military, the international force, Arab states and the U.S., until Gaza was fully handed over. The plan also stated that only a perimeter security presence would remain until it was fully ensured that no terrorist threat remained from the Gaza Strip.
Israel has now rejected the newer plan, published about a week and a half ago, which contains 15 points. The Board of Peace for Gaza published a “road map” for implementing the plan, setting out a gradual, time-limited and internationally supervised process for disarming terrorist organizations and militias and completing Israel’s withdrawal from the Strip. In announcing Israel’s rejection, Netanyahu stressed that “the IDF will not carry out any withdrawal until Hamas is disarmed.”
The current plan states that all sides must reaffirm their commitments. “Through this process, the parties seek to end the cycle of destruction, ensure completion of the Israeli withdrawal from the Gaza Strip, restore normal life, enable Palestinian governance, reconstruction, security, recovery and economic development, rehabilitate affected groups and facilitate the opening of a credible political path leading to self-determination and statehood,” the document says.
Another clause calls on Israel to complete without delay all remaining commitments under the Sharm el-Sheikh agreement, particularly the cessation of military operations. At the same time, Hamas and the Palestinian factions are required to complete the cessation of all military operations in accordance with the Sharm el-Sheikh agreement and the peace plan.