Netanyahu Strikes Back at White House Over Gaza Panel, Citing 'Contrary to Policy'
Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has fired back at the White House over its announcement of a "Gaza Executive Board," criticizing the panel as having members that run "contrary to Israel's policy."
The White House revealed the names of the board's members on Friday, including US special envoy Steve Witkoff and Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner. However, Netanyahu's office stated in a rare public criticism that it was not consulted about the announcement and disputed the panel's composition.
"The Prime Minister has instructed the Foreign Affairs Minister to contact the US Secretary of State on this matter," said a statement from Netanyahu's office, highlighting the lack of Israeli representation on the board.
The White House claims that the "Gaza Executive Board" will operate under the broader "Board of Peace," chaired by President Donald Trump. Phase Two of his 20-point plan to end the war in Gaza focuses on reconstruction and governance in the Palestinian territories.
However, Netanyahu's office sees this move as a threat to Israel's security and an attempt to dictate policy from Washington.
The controversy has sparked reactions from various corners, including Israeli politician Itamar Ben-Gvir, who called for the IDF to prepare to return to war with "tremendous force" in the Gaza Strip. Meanwhile, President Trump defended his plan, saying it was a significant step forward and would bring about peace.
As tensions continue to escalate, the fragile ceasefire in Gaza remains a major concern, with over 71,400 Palestinians reported killed in Israel's military operations since Hamas' October 7, 2023, attack on Israel.
Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has fired back at the White House over its announcement of a "Gaza Executive Board," criticizing the panel as having members that run "contrary to Israel's policy."
The White House revealed the names of the board's members on Friday, including US special envoy Steve Witkoff and Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner. However, Netanyahu's office stated in a rare public criticism that it was not consulted about the announcement and disputed the panel's composition.
"The Prime Minister has instructed the Foreign Affairs Minister to contact the US Secretary of State on this matter," said a statement from Netanyahu's office, highlighting the lack of Israeli representation on the board.
The White House claims that the "Gaza Executive Board" will operate under the broader "Board of Peace," chaired by President Donald Trump. Phase Two of his 20-point plan to end the war in Gaza focuses on reconstruction and governance in the Palestinian territories.
However, Netanyahu's office sees this move as a threat to Israel's security and an attempt to dictate policy from Washington.
The controversy has sparked reactions from various corners, including Israeli politician Itamar Ben-Gvir, who called for the IDF to prepare to return to war with "tremendous force" in the Gaza Strip. Meanwhile, President Trump defended his plan, saying it was a significant step forward and would bring about peace.
As tensions continue to escalate, the fragile ceasefire in Gaza remains a major concern, with over 71,400 Palestinians reported killed in Israel's military operations since Hamas' October 7, 2023, attack on Israel.
it's like, can't we just have peace already? 
i mean, i know there are so many complexities to this conflict but like, shouldn't we be working towards a solution that works for everyone not just one side or the other?
it's like, can't we get some objective news for once? 
anyway i'm just hoping that someone, anyone can make a difference here and bring about some kind of peace 
my little cousin has a friend whose cousin is actually from gaza and they're always talking about how hard life is there... it's breaking my heart 
. I mean, I get why he's upset, but come on, it's not like the US is trying to take control or anything 
. And what's up with Trump defending his plan? 
Doesn't he know how messy Gaza is? 
... we need to talk about this more ASAP 
like, dont they know that trump was all about being friends w/ israel 
anyway, ben gvir is calling 4 war w/ "tremendous force" in the Gaza Strip 
but honestly, can't they just talk it out? 
I mean, i get that Israel wants representation on this board, but does it have to go this far? 
Kushner's family ties are already a mess 
But it's hard when everyone's so invested in winning. Netanyahu's right to be upset, though - not being consulted on something that affects Israel's security is a big deal. But at the same time, the US needs to be careful not to meddle too much. It's like they're trying to impose their will from afar, without really understanding the situation on the ground. And what's with all these new panels and boards? Can't we just have one plan that works for everyone? 
it just seems like a recipe for disaster, especially with the current tensions in Gaza... 71k+ Palestinians dead is no joke, you know? 
with the ceasefire in Gaza still fragile and over 71k Palestinians killed since that Hamas attack... it's like, we need a way to calm everyone down ASAP 
.