Why it matters:
Netanyahu’s firm stance introduces major obstacles to the Trump proposal, especially after Arab and Islamic nations publicly welcomed Hamas’s response to the plan. His conditions could complicate efforts to build consensus around a negotiated settlement.
Key points:
- “No representative of Hamas or the Palestinian Authority will take part in Gaza’s administration.”
- “Israel will be responsible and actively involved in disarming Gaza.”
- “If captives are not released by the deadline, we will resume fighting with support from concerned nations.”
- “We’ve succeeded in shifting the situation from 'Israel’s isolation' to 'Hamas’s isolation.'
The big picture:
Netanyahu’s rejection of Palestinian political involvement in post-war Gaza and his insistence on captives' release as a precondition for diplomacy may clash with regional efforts to de-escalate. Arab and Islamic countries have endorsed Hamas’s willingness to hand over Gaza’s administration to a transitional Palestinian committee composed of independent technocrats, viewing it as a step toward unity and peace.
Between the lines:
These conditions, excluding Hamas and the Palestinian Authority from Gaza’s future and tying the Trump plan’s implementation to captives' release, could pose serious challenges to the plan’s viability, particularly in light of growing international support for Hamas’s engagement.
Go deeper:
Hezbollah's Qassem: Trump's So-Called Peace Plan Israeli One Wrapped in U.S. Cover
Hossein Amiri - Hossein Amiri
