Trump said he has a good relationship with Netanyahu despite the rejection of the Gaza plan
U.S. President Donald Trump stated that his relationship with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is “very good,” even though the Israeli prime minister rejected a 15-point plan for Gaza drafted by the U.S.-led Peace Council. Responding to a reporter’s question after an event in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, Trump briefly said that his relationship with Netanyahu is “very good.”
On Sunday, Netanyahu formally stated for the first time that he would not support the plan. It called for Israel to begin a phased withdrawal of its forces in tandem with the disarmament of Hamas.
The Israeli prime minister stated that the Israeli military would not withdraw its forces until Hamas was “truly disarmed.” According to him, the military would also continue to counter threats to the country’s military personnel and civilians. Netanyahu added that Israel is discussing this issue with the United States and stated that a Palestinian state will not be established as long as he heads the government.
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After the Peace Council released the draft on July 31, Netanyahu did not comment on it for several days. He later acknowledged that the Trump administration had sent Israel a draft document with which he did not agree.
In late July, Trump announced a breakthrough within the U.S.-led ceasefire mechanism. According to him, Hamas and other armed groups in Gaza had agreed to a phased plan: they were to hand over their weapons to a new Palestinian governing body, while Israel would simultaneously begin withdrawing its troops.
A representative of the Peace Council told Reuters on Monday that the plan remains in effect. According to him, the process is based on the implementation of agreements and on-the-ground verification of steps taken, and consultations with Israel are ongoing. Each subsequent stage is to begin only after the necessary commitments have been fulfilled.
