Israel's far-right ministers have flatly rejected a US-backed plan for postwar governance in Gaza, with Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich calling on Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to establish a "military government" there. This move comes as the White House has announced the establishment of a "Gaza executive board", which will operate under a broader "board of peace" chaired by Donald Trump.
Smotrich's rejection is based on the idea that Turkey and Qatar, key backers of the Palestinian Authority, should not be involved in any future governance structure. He claimed that countries supporting Hamas cannot replace it and warned against granting them a foothold in Gaza. This stance has drawn criticism from many quarters, as Turkey and Qatar have long been vocal critics of Israel's actions in Gaza.
Netanyahu had previously expressed concerns over the plan, stating that some of the appointments were not coordinated with Israel and went against its policy. He urged his foreign minister to contact US Secretary of State Marco Rubio regarding this matter.
This rejection highlights the challenges faced by Netanyahu as he navigates a delicate balance between appeasing his far-right coalition partners and maintaining good relations with Western countries, particularly the United States. The White House plan includes three bodies: a board of peace chaired by Trump; a Palestinian committee of technocrats tasked with governing Gaza; and the Gaza executive board playing an advisory role.
The proposed $1 billion annual contribution to the "Board of Peace" has sparked debate among some nations, as member states would serve a term of no more than three years unless they contribute over $1 billion in cash funds within the first year. The US has stated that the plan had entered a second phase, shifting from implementing a ceasefire to disarmament and transitional governance.
As Gaza continues to face dire living conditions, with recent storms exacerbating the crisis, at least 451 Palestinians have been reported killed since the ceasefire took effect last October. The situation remains precarious, with ongoing airstrikes and gunfire not having ceased despite efforts to calm tensions.
Smotrich's rejection is based on the idea that Turkey and Qatar, key backers of the Palestinian Authority, should not be involved in any future governance structure. He claimed that countries supporting Hamas cannot replace it and warned against granting them a foothold in Gaza. This stance has drawn criticism from many quarters, as Turkey and Qatar have long been vocal critics of Israel's actions in Gaza.
Netanyahu had previously expressed concerns over the plan, stating that some of the appointments were not coordinated with Israel and went against its policy. He urged his foreign minister to contact US Secretary of State Marco Rubio regarding this matter.
This rejection highlights the challenges faced by Netanyahu as he navigates a delicate balance between appeasing his far-right coalition partners and maintaining good relations with Western countries, particularly the United States. The White House plan includes three bodies: a board of peace chaired by Trump; a Palestinian committee of technocrats tasked with governing Gaza; and the Gaza executive board playing an advisory role.
The proposed $1 billion annual contribution to the "Board of Peace" has sparked debate among some nations, as member states would serve a term of no more than three years unless they contribute over $1 billion in cash funds within the first year. The US has stated that the plan had entered a second phase, shifting from implementing a ceasefire to disarmament and transitional governance.
As Gaza continues to face dire living conditions, with recent storms exacerbating the crisis, at least 451 Palestinians have been reported killed since the ceasefire took effect last October. The situation remains precarious, with ongoing airstrikes and gunfire not having ceased despite efforts to calm tensions.
it's like, Netanyahu's all about appeasin' his far-right squad but at the same time he's tryin' to maintain those good relations with the US... meanwhile, Turkey and Qatar are just sittin' there tryna help out and Netanyahu's all like "nope, you can't be involved in governance here" 
it's so messed up. 
and now there's this thing about the $1 billion annual contribution... it's just so ridiculous that member states would have to contribute that kinda cash just to serve on some advisory board for three years 
. 
. airstrikes, gunfire... it's like, can't they just leave us alone? 
we need help, not more politicians tryin' to figure out who gets to be in charge 
anyway back to israel & gaza...i feel bad 4 the ppl livin in gaza its like theyre stuck in this never ending nightmare 
- far-right in Israel wanting a "military government" in Gaza? Sounds like a recipe for disaster 
. And Trump's back, because why not? 
. The fact that Netanyahu and his crew are more worried about Turkey and Qatar than actual human lives is mind-boggling 
.
. Like who thought it was a good idea to give Qatar and Turkey a say in Gaza's governance? Oh right, people who clearly haven't been paying attention to the region's politics 
.
. Not my problem, but I'll be over here 
, watching this Gaza situation go from bad to worse 
.
can't believe what's going on in Gaza right now 
Smotrich is being super reckless with his "military government" idea 
its gonna lead to more chaos and suffering 
the us trying to set up some board of peace led by trump is just gonna give israel more power over palestine...like, what's the point? 
meanwhile, gaza is literally dying over here with 451 people killed and all these ongoing conflicts...some rich guy wants a billion bucks to 'help' but it's just gonna get lost in the system 
. The fact that Netanyahu is trying to appease his far-right coalition partners while still maintaining relations with Western countries is super tricky to navigate 
. Maybe we should just take a step back and see if there's a better way to handle this situation 
, and now they're rejecting a US plan that could potentially bring some stability to the area? It's crazy talk! 
.
. And let's not forget the recent storms made things even worse 
. I don't think that $1 billion annual contribution is going to make a difference, especially if some countries have to contribute cash funds within the first year 
( source: UN report)
And Smotrich's "military government" thing is just super concerning. 
I mean, I get that he wants to keep the Palestinians in check, but a military government? That sounds like oppression 
. Meanwhile, Netanyahu's trying to balance his coalition partners with the US, and it's all just so... 
messy. Can we just find a way to make Gaza safe and happy for everyone involved?