Israeli ministers demand changes to Trump's Gaza roadmap, warn of risks
Tel Aviv, August 3
Israeli Cabinet Ministers Bezalel Smotrich and Orit Strook warned Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday that the Peace Council's Gaza roadmap is dangerous for Israel and requires immediate changes.
In a letter to Netanyahu, they argued that the 15-point document contradicts the goals of disarming Hamas, demilitarising Gaza, and removing threats against Israel, as well as US commitments on the issue.
They also criticised the proposed role of the International Stabilisation Force (ISF), claiming it would limit Israeli military operations rather than help eliminate Hamas capabilities.
The ministers demanded the roadmap be amended before acceptance and called for cabinet action to prevent the force from entering Gaza until its mission is clarified.
— ANI
Reader Comments
The ISF point is interesting. If Israel wants a stabilisation force, they can't have it both ways - either the force has authority or it's just a symbolic presence. Our peacekeeping experience in Kashmir and with UN missions tells us that vague mandates create more problems than they solve.
As someone who follows Middle East geopolitics, this feels like a bid to torpedo the deal before it even starts. The US brokered this and now Netanyahu has to manage his coalition. Classic political tightrope walk.
From India's standpoint, we've always supported a two-state solution. But these ministers' objections show that some factions in Israel are simply not ready for peace. The demand to disarm Hamas is valid, but the methodology matters. You can't have peace while one side keeps escalating.
The letter sounds like a power play. Smotrich and Strook are basically saying "we won't support anything unless we get veto power." The international community needs to call this out for what it is - obstructionism.
Honestly, the whole thing is a mess. India has always maintained that Palestinian rights and Israeli security are not mutually exclusive. But when you have ministers openly undermining their own PM's diplomatic efforts, it shows how fractured the Israeli government is right now. 🙏
M We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.