Political correspondent
Although Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has categorically rejected the new Peace Board plan to disarm Hamas in Gaza, his statement is unlikely to be final.
The White House is reportedly “not bothered” by Netanyahu’s statement and sees it as campaign rhetoric ahead of a tough general election expected in Israel.
Israeli journalist Barak Ravid quoted a senior US official as saying that “we understand Netanyahu’s political needs.” He added that “we have no problem with that, as long as he continues to do what we (the US) are telling him, especially in terms of limiting attacks in Gaza. There has been an apparent pause in Israeli attacks on Gaza in recent days, which was what Hamas demanded when it agreed to the US-backed 15-point roadmap.
There is another sign that Israel is ready to push ahead with US President Donald Trump’s peace plan for Gaza. In this regard, preparations are underway to deploy the International Stabilization Force (ISF). The force, made up of international troops, is planned to work alongside a new Palestinian police force to secure the area. According to Israeli state-run radio Kan News, construction of the first ISF base amid the ruins of Rafah in southern Gaza is expected to begin later this month, which will finally allow the reconstruction of Gaza to begin.
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