Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has explicitly rejected the sequencing of a 15-point plan from the Board of Peace, an international body set up by US President Donald Trump, dealing a blow to the administration's claims of a 'monumental' deal. The rejection came under pressure from far-right coalition members, with Netanyahu dismissing 'a wave of rumours of Israeli withdrawals on all fronts' and directly telling the White House that 'we know how to stand our ground, even against our best friends when necessary.'
Ceasefire Violations and Mounting Casualties
The practical outcome is the continued violation of last October's ceasefire agreement, under which close to 1,300 Palestinians have been killed in Israeli air assaults. The Israeli military has expanded its presence, now controlling about 65% of the territory, while much of the population is hemmed into the coastal strip, facing an unrelenting daily struggle for survival.
Formal schooling has not restarted, the healthcare system has been largely destroyed, and the entry of medical and humanitarian aid remains severely restricted. Reconstruction work is blocked, and the first building contract issued by the Board of Peace is for an outpost to host foreign troops, not for civilian rebuilding.
Netanyahu's Political Calculations
Netanyahu's call for complete Hamas disarmament before any Israeli withdrawal is seen as transparently playing for time. For two years, he has flattered Trump and exploited his backing to pursue a scorched-earth project of revenge following the Hamas massacre of October 7. With elections two months away, his priority is appeasing the far-right forces that could keep him in power. Should he lose, he could face jail on corruption charges laid more than five years ago.
Despairing Palestinians hope that growing White House frustration with Netanyahu's 'forever wars' will lead to a tipping point—one that should have been reached during the Biden presidency. Trump has the power to isolate Netanyahu, call time on his manoeuvring, and compel a different approach, but recent attempts by the Board of Peace to reassure the Israeli government over disarmament verification suggest that point is not close.
Shifting US Public Opinion
Ahead of challenging midterm elections for Republicans, pro-Israel sentiment may be waning. Recent polling indicates that traditionally high levels of US public sympathy with Israel are on the decline. Trump faces a choice: continue to accept being played by Netanyahu, or exert pressure that could bring genuine relief to Gaza.
