The U.S. approach to rebuilding Gaza has entered a new phase, as President Donald Trump and his envoy, Steve Witkoff, move to activate the second stage of the peace plan by announcing the establishment of an executive framework for a “Peace Council” and the formation of a Palestinian technocratic government to run the enclave. Washington says the process is intended to consolidate the cease-fire and shape arrangements for the “day after.”
The move signals a shift in the American plan from political concepts to practical implementation. At the same time, it underscores a divergence from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s stated war objectives and promises of “decisive victory.” Israel’s declared achievements thus far have been limited to the return of hostages and the recovery of the bodies of those killed (with one body still unaccounted for), while Hamas has not been disarmed and its control over large parts of the Gaza Strip has not been dismantled. Some assessments do not rule out the possibility that Washington will demand additional Israeli withdrawals in later stages, in line with the provisions of the Trump plan.
In its first official response, the Israeli government announced its opposition to the American track. In a statement issued by the Prime Minister’s Office, it said the announcement of the executive committee operating under the peace conference “was not coordinated with Israel and contradicts its policy.” The statement added that Netanyahu had instructed the foreign minister to approach the U.S. secretary of state to lodge a formal protest, in an effort to contain the domestic political fallout and highlight the “lack of prior coordination.”
The developments coincide with political escalation within the governing coalition. Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, leader of the Religious Zionism party, publicly attacked the American plan, calling for a “rush into Gaza,” the imposition of full Israeli control over the territory, and settlement there.
Smotrich said that involving Turkey and Qatar in Gaza’s administration amounted to “transferring Gaza from one enemy to another.” Speaking at a ceremony marking the establishment of the settlement of Yetziv near Bethlehem, he addressed Netanyahu directly, saying, “This is either us or them… either full Israeli control and the destruction of Hamas, or the squandering of the achievements of the war.” He warned of “political upheaval” if the course was not changed, remarks that reflect the intensifying rift within the government as an election year approaches.
Israel’s education minister, Yoav Kisch of Netanyahu’s Likud party, denied in a radio interview that Israel had accepted any role for Turkey or Qatar and voiced opposition to the presence of “any Turkish forces in Gaza.”
Kisch accused representatives of Ankara and Doha of being “supporters of Hamas and hostile to Israel.” He said there was a conflict of interests “even among the best of friends,” an apparent reference to Trump.
He added that Israel “continues trying to change this track,” which he said “was not agreed upon with the Israeli prime minister.”
Meanwhile, Israeli sources have leaked information indicating that Israel has given Hamas a deadline of just two months to disarm, following the announcement of the Peace Council and the technocratic administration, according to Israel’s Channel 12. The sources claim the ultimatum was issued “in full coordination with the United States as part of direct understandings between the two sides.”
Politically, the American plan highlights the inclusion of the Palestinian Authority as a partner in Gaza’s administration and accepts roles for Qatar and Turkey in postwar arrangements, further deepening the rift between Washington and Tel Aviv. While Netanyahu has sought to suggest that the move caught him by surprise, U.S. media outlets report that Israel was aware of the proposed framework.
On the ground, a security source speaking to Alhurra said the Israeli military is operating under a fragile cease-fire that “oscillates between calm and friction.”
The source said the Southern Command is carrying out three parallel missions: “defense, preventing violations, and destroying what remains of hostile infrastructure.” He said forces are “firmly holding the yellow line and do not allow crossings or violations,” operating under a policy of “zero tolerance and responding to any breach.”
He added that the military establishment is using this phase to “dismantle underground infrastructure and weapons that have been discovered within the designated areas,” while noting that the timing of any withdrawal from Gaza “is not a military decision, but a political one.”
This article is translated from the original Arabic.
