The Israeli army backed on Tuesday Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s stance on the latest Gaza agreement, placing three red lines to the 15-point deal that was announced by the Board of Peace last week about ending the war in the Palestinian enclave.
Israel’s Kan radio said senior military officials refuse to have restrictions imposed on the army in Gaza, demanding complete freedom of movement to eliminate “threats”.
The army also wants to oversee Hamas’ disarmament, refusing to task this mission to the technocratic government that is expected to rule Gaza. The army also strongly objected to a partial or gradual pullout from the enclave before Hamas is fully disarmed.
These issues are set to be discussed at a cabinet meeting dedicated to tackling Gaza on Thursday.
The military position effectively backs Netanyahu’s stances. The PM had persuaded Nickolay Mladenov, the Board of Peace's high representative for Gaza, to change his position after meeting in Jerusalem on Monday.
The Board announced that Israel will not beginning withdrawing behind the “yellow line” in Gaza until Hamas is fully disarmed.
“Israel and the Board of Peace share a common understanding of the ultimate objectives,” it added in a post on the X platform.
Israeli sources described the meeting between Netanyahu and Mladenov as “difficult,” reported Israel’s Channel 12.
Mladenov demanded from Netanyahu that Israel cease attacks on Gaza and commit to the US plan, but the PM refused. Netanyahu said that Israel will not cease fire and not withdraw behind the yellow line given the “ongoing threat from Hamas.”
Israel also expressed reservations about the disarmament plan, saying it was not party to the related negotiations that were held in Cairo.
After the meeting, Netanyahu declared that Israel will not withdraw behind the yellow line and will continue to thwart any threat to its citizens and soldiers.
The Board of Peace soon after issued a statement that was more in line with the Israeli position. The Times of Israel noted that the changes took place after its senior members met with the PM.
A previous version of the Board statement said that a “full” Israeli withdrawal would happen before Hamas is disarmed, but the word was removed in the latest statement issued on Monday.
The Times of Israel noted that the statements go against what Mladenov said last week in that the withdrawal and disarmament go hand in hand.
An informed Israeli official also said that Tel Aviv opposed the Board’s plan to include representatives from Qatar and Türkiye in the international committee tasked with the implementing Hamas’ disarmament plan. It also objected to the proposal that the arms be stored rather than destroyed.
The Board of Peace’s latest position was welcomed in Israel and opposed by Hamas, which said it was awaiting an official response from the body and mediators about implementing the second phase of the Gaza ceasefire.
Meanwhile, in Istanbul, the movement’s new politburo chief Khalil al-Hayya and an accompanying delegation met with Turkish head of intelligence Ibrahim Kalin.
Hayya said the latest round of negotiations were “decisive and important,” and that they demand “real efforts” to make Israel meet its ceasefire commitments.
The Times of Israel said it was unlikely that the army would pull out a significant number of forces from Gaza or make more concessions before Israel’s October 27 elections.
