Israel raises concerns over US-backed Gaza peace plan as talks continue

Israel has conveyed concerns to the United States over a Gaza framework promoted by President Donald Trump, according to the office of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. A spokesman for the prime minister said the public version of the proposal does not reflect Israel's positions. The comments come as the plan is being discussed alongside reports that Hamas has moved toward disarming, although the group has not issued an official public response.

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Doron Spielman, speaking for Netanyahu's office, said Israel had sent its comments and concerns to American counterparts. He said Israeli intelligence had found that Hamas had been rearming and recruiting since a ceasefire announced by Trump in October, which reduced the level of violence but did not stop Israeli strikes. He also said the plan released by Trump's Board of Peace called for Gaza to become a "deradicalised terror-free zone" that would not threaten neighbouring states.

The Israeli side says any lasting arrangement would require what it described as genuine, verifiable and irreversible demilitarisation of Hamas. An Israeli official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said Israel would not withdraw forces under the plan without confirming that Hamas had disarmed. That position underlines the gap between the public diplomatic push and Israel's stated security demands.

It also suggests that the details of any future arrangement remain contested even as the framework is presented as a step toward ending the war. The development matters because it touches the central question in the Gaza war: whether a ceasefire can evolve into a durable political settlement. The conflict began with the Hamas attack on Israel on 7 October 2023, and since then diplomacy has repeatedly focused on balancing Israeli security concerns with efforts to reduce civilian suffering in Gaza.

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Trump described the latest move as a major milestone in efforts to end the war and said Israel was very happy about the developments, but the Israeli statement indicates that agreement on the plan's terms is not yet complete. The ceasefire announced in October lowered the intensity of the fighting, but Israeli strikes have continued. Palestinian authorities reported yesterday that Israeli attacks killed at least 13 people, showing that violence has not fully stopped despite the diplomatic track.

The Israeli statement also reflects a broader concern in Jerusalem that Hamas could rebuild its capabilities if disarmament is not independently verified. That concern has become central to Israel's public messaging on any post-war arrangement for Gaza. What remains unclear is whether Hamas will formally accept the framework and whether Israel will regard any version of the plan as compatible with its security conditions.

It is also not clear how the proposed Board of Peace framework would be implemented on the ground or what role outside actors would play in verifying disarmament. The next developments to watch are any official Hamas response, further US clarification of the proposal, and whether Israel's objections lead to changes in the text or the pace of negotiations.

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