Netanyahu’s steadfast rejection of Donald Trump’s 15-point Gaza roadmap has ignited a complex debate within the international community, particularly regarding the potential implications for the ongoing conflict. Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, echoing a stance of resolute military action, has firmly maintained that the Israeli army would not withdraw until Hamas is fully disarmed. This position, however, is punctuated by discernible shifts in ground operations, reflecting a calculated strategy aiming to solidify Israel’s control over the Palestinian territory, despite ongoing negotiations for a ceasefire. The US President’s Board of Peace envoy, Nickolay Mladenov, highlighted a crucial aspect: any Israeli pullback would occur incrementally, involving the liberation of Palestinian territory by international forces, with disarmament ultimately extending to all armed groups, including Hamas alone. Israel’s initial reluctance, however, was compounded by secret approvals for infrastructural rehabilitation within Gaza, specifically focusing on rebuilding basic infrastructure in eastern Rafah, with Palestinian laborers being allowed onto the site after Shin Bet security screening. The project, dubbed the ‘Green Rafah’ temporary housing initiative, underpins the ‘Operation New Year’ – a plan to rebuild basic infrastructure in the region. Experts warn that, from a humanitarian perspective, the construction will further entrench Israel’s military presence and cement the fragmentation of Gaza. Israel has reportedly held back crucial aid caravans needed to house residents, delaying the second phase of the October 2025 ‘ceasefire’ agreement, a move reportedly spurred by competing pressures from US allies seeking to proceed towards the second phase and from far-right political factions hoping to seize more territory. Media reports, citing US officials, suggest the Israeli army has received no orders to halt preparations for the agreement’s second phase, with construction slated to begin in Rafah by the end of August. Netanyahu is facing mounting pressure from his US allies, demanding he proceed towards the second phase, and from his far-right political allies who are pushing for increased Israeli control over Gaza, especially as elections draw near. Despite the de-escalation in attacks, violence has continued in the besieged Gaza Strip. Israeli forces have killed at least 12 Palestinians in Deir el-Balah on Saturday, with at least five more wounded in the territory, including in an Israeli tank strike on tents in Khan Younis and gunfire in al-Mawasi and Gaza City. Since October’s ‘ceasefire,’ 1,258 Palestinians have been killed and 4,139 wounded, while 807 bodies were recovered from rubble as of August 10. Gaza’s Health Ministry reports more than 8,000 missing Palestinians under rubble, with an OCHA satellite assessment concluding that 82 percent of all structures in Gaza – over 201,000 buildings – remain damaged or destroyed as of mid-June. Amid a series of raids across the occupied West Bank, Israeli forces launched a major, multi-day operation in Qalandiya refugee camp and neighbouring Kafr Aqab, targeting a carwash, severely beating a journalist, and running over a young man with a military vehicle. By midweek, they had occupied community and government offices, forcing a family from its home and blocking dawn prayers. The Palestinian Prisoner’s Society declared more than 60 residents detained and interrogated in homes converted to field posts. It said that a total of more than 25,600 Palestinians have been arrested across the West Bank since October 2023. Meanwhile, Israeli authorities indicted settler Yinon Levi over last year’s killing of Palestinian activist Awdah Hathaleen. This is the first such charge in the West Bank in more than seven years, with over 93 percent of settler-attack investigations closed without indictment. The day after the indictment, settlers disrupted a wedding in Umm Al-Khair in what residents described to Al Jazeera as retribution. The situation remains volatile, with ongoing violence and political maneuvering in the occupied West Bank, including continued Israeli raids and settler outposts, which are expanding further into East Jerusalem and the West Bank. The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) noted that 82 percent of all structures in Gaza – more than 201,000 buildings – are still damaged or destroyed as of mid-June, and the report also indicated that the Israeli government is continuing to restrict the movement of heavy machinery into Gaza. The situation in Gaza continues to be a major concern for international observers, with ongoing concerns about humanitarian access and the potential for further escalation.”
Source: Al Jazeera
