Gaza Peace Plan Crumbles: Netanyahu Rejects Trump's 'Monumental' Deal

A US-backed peace plan for Gaza, once heralded as “monumental” by Donald Trump, has been explicitly rejected by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. This rejection, reportedly influenced by pressure from far-right members of his coalition, casts a significant shadow over efforts to de-escalate the long-standing conflict and bring relief to the embattled region.

Just days after Trump’s initial announcement of the deal, which aimed for a phased disarmament of Hamas alongside an Israeli military withdrawal, reports emerged of further Israeli airstrikes resulting in more casualties. Netanyahu's subsequent dismissal of the 15-point plan, issued as a direct message to the White House, scoffed at “a wave of rumours of… Israeli withdrawals on all fronts,” emphasizing Israel's resolve to “stand our ground, even against our best friends when necessary.”

The rejection effectively means a continued violation of last October’s ceasefire agreement. Since then, nearly 1,300 Palestinians have reportedly died in Israeli air assaults. Far from withdrawing, the Israeli military has expanded its presence, now controlling approximately 65% of Gaza’s territory. The remaining population, hemmed in towards the coast, faces an unrelenting daily struggle for survival.

The humanitarian situation in Gaza remains dire. Formal schooling has not resumed, the healthcare system is largely in ruins, and the entry of essential medical and other humanitarian aid continues to be severely restricted. Reconstruction efforts have been blocked, and paradoxically, the first building contract issued by the US-established Board of Peace was for an outpost intended to house foreign troops. Meanwhile, global attention has largely shifted to the conflict surrounding Iran, a development in which Netanyahu is also reported to have played a role, further complicating the Middle East’s volatile landscape.

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