By Safina khan
Jerusalem: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has rejected a 15-point Gaza proposal put forward by US President Donald Trump’s Board of Peace, throwing fresh uncertainty over the next stage of the ceasefire process.
The plan reportedly calls for Hamas to surrender its weapons while Israeli forces withdraw from their current positions in Gaza.
However, Netanyahu made Israel’s position clear during Sunday’s cabinet meeting, saying the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) would not withdraw until Hamas is disarmed.
The proposal was intended to provide a framework for the second phase of the ceasefire agreement reached last October, which brought an end to two years of fighting between Israel and Hamas.
But a key issue remains unresolved: would Israeli forces withdraw first, or would Hamas have to disarm before any Israeli withdrawal begins?
Netanyahu’s rejection could further complicate efforts to move the Gaza ceasefire into its next phase and raises fresh questions over the future of the proposed peace framework.
