Authored by Tom Gantert via The Epoch Times
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reiterated on August 9 that Israel is standing firm in rejecting U.S. President Donald Trump’s Peace Board plan for Gaza and has made it clear that there will be no withdrawal until Hamas is completely disarmed.
President Trump announced on Truth Social in July that a comprehensive agreement had been reached for the total disarmament of Hamas and other armed groups in Gaza.
According to Trump, the disarmament will be carried out in phases. Israeli forces will gradually withdraw as disarmament progresses, with an International Stabilization Force and a new Palestinian police force taking over security responsibilities.
Gaza’s governance will eventually transition to a new Palestinian government in collaboration with the Peace Board.
The Peace Board, chaired by Trump, is an international organization dedicated to fostering stability, establishing lawful governance, and ensuring lasting peace in conflict-affected regions. It comprises founding members such as the United States, Israel, Egypt, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and over 20 other countries committed to international peace-building efforts.
During a government meeting on August 9, Netanyahu emphasized that the disarmament process must encompass all of Hamas’s weaponry and must be authentic rather than superficial.
He stated that Israel is in discussions with the United States and that certain U.S. proposals are acceptable while others are not.
Netanyahu also affirmed Israel’s commitment to countering threats against its troops and civilians and dismissed the notion of a Palestinian state.
“As long as I am Prime Minister, a Palestinian state will not be established, neither in Gaza nor in Judea and Samaria,” Netanyahu declared.
Addressing concerns regarding Iran and Lebanon, Netanyahu vowed to prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons and disclosed ongoing military operations in Lebanon aimed at neutralizing threats.
Recent operations in southern Lebanon resulted in the loss of two Israeli reservists and injuries to four others, as confirmed by the Israeli military. Lebanese authorities reported one fatality and 12 injuries in Tibnin, Lebanon, due to an Israeli strike following an evacuation alert for residents.
These developments coincide with U.S.-led talks to de-escalate tensions along the Israel-Lebanon border and advance a broader peace agreement. Discussions encompass the disarmament of Hezbollah and other Iran-linked threats, the withdrawal of Israeli forces from southern Lebanon, and the phased transfer of security responsibilities to the Lebanese army.