JERUSALEM, Israel – Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has rejected the 15-point plan outlined by President Trump’s Gaza Board of Peace intended to create conditions for a full Israeli withdrawal and disarm Hamas.
Netanyahu announced on Sunday, “The IDF (Israel Defense Forces) will not carry out any withdrawal until Hamas is disarmed. And when I say disarming Hamas, it means the heavy weapons, the less heavy weapons, and the light weapons, all the weapons, and we are talking about real disarmament, not a fictitious disarmament.”
The prime minister added, “Additionally, the IDF will continue to thwart threats against our forces and citizens. Because once again, the existence of Israel and the security of all Israeli citizens is not up for negotiation.”
The White House is reported not to be worried about Netanyahu’s refusal. In an interview with Israel’s Channel 12, Gaza Board of Peace representative Nickolay Mladenov noted, “Nobody is required to do anything, last of all, Israel, before we actually have verified steps on the ground.”
Hamas claims that is never going to happen.
Ten days ago, a Hamas representative in Iran, Khaled Qaddoumi, was asked on Iranian television if the group would disarm, In a response translated and posted by MEMRI, he replied, “Never. Armed resistance is considered legitimate under international law, because we are living under occupation.”
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Regarding Iran, Netanyahu indicated that he appreciates President Trump, but insisted that Israel will take care of Iran’s nuclear threat on its own, if need be.
He stated, “And I want to emphasize once again: with or without an agreement, as long as I am Prime Minister, Iran will not possess nuclear weapons.”
Iran’s Supreme National Security Council and the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) set preconditions for reopening the Strait of Hormuz, including full compensation for war damages, lifting all sanctions, releasing frozen assets, and withdrawing U.S. forces from the region..
They also demand that the U.S.
- [“N]ever threaten nor insult Iran in any language.”
- “[P]ermanently end the war against Iran and Iran’s allies in Lebanon, Gaza, Yemen, and Iraq.”
- Lift the naval blockade and withdraw military forces from the surroundings of Iran.
In an ABC interview with George Stephanopolous, former Defense Secretary Mark Esper says Iran’s demands show they believe they have the upper hand.
“They are emboldened and it shows what we’re up against after five and a half months of conflict.”
At the same time, Iran facing 88 percent inflation. President trump observed in an interview with Axios, “We are low-keying it with Iran.”
Meanwhile, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Pakistan signed a defense pact on Friday, essentially agreeing to band together if any one of them is attacked. Shortly thereafter, Pakistan’s defense minister told a local news outlet that “Israel is a threat to the entire Muslim world.”
He called for a “united military front” against the Jewish state.
Analyst Jonathan Conricus from the Foundation for the Defense of Democracies told CBN News that the alliance calls into question Turkey’s loyalty to NATO and whether the U.S. should supply Ankara with advanced American weaponry.
“I think it’s a worrying sign, three countries that allegedly are aligned with the U.S. but are breaking out and deciding to form a separate military strategic alliance. For me, it makes me question their loyalty toward the United States of America.”
Conricus added, “And I wonder why Turkey, a significant and lauded NATO member, needs to be in yet another military alliance.”
