Israeli Ministers Claim Misinformation on Gaza Peace Plan After Supporting It in Cabinet

Days after the Gaza Peace Council announced an agreement on a gradual disarmament of terrorist groups and a full Israeli withdrawal from Gaza, two Israeli cabinet ministers, Bezalel Smotrich and Orit Strook, have called on Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to halt the deployment of an international stabilization force in Gaza. This demand comes despite their initial support for the plan during the cabinet vote. On Monday, Smotrich and Strook argued that the conditions outlined in the "roadmap" for implementing Trump’s peace plan differ significantly from what was agreed upon and presented to the cabinet.

In a letter, the ministers claimed the cabinet decision was based on incorrect information. They described the roadmap document published by the Gaza Peace Council as dangerous to Israel and contradictory to the disarmament of Hamas. They requested an immediate meeting of the security cabinet to vote on blocking the plan’s implementation, citing several discrepancies they say were not disclosed to them. These include the roadmap not requiring the removal or destruction of weapons from Gaza, simultaneous Israeli withdrawal with disarmament, the application of Palestinian Authority law in Gaza, the international force not acting against terrorist groups but only separating the IDF from the National Committee for Gaza Management (NCAG), and the establishment of an international mechanism whose composition was not shared with the cabinet.

The roadmap, released on Friday, sets a 14-day timeline after approval for transferring all civilian and security powers to the NCAG, emphasizing "one authority, one law, one weapon." Hamas and other factions must relinquish control, with heavy weapons and tunnels stored exclusively under the committee’s authority. The disarmament and enforcement are to be integrated with a gradual IDF withdrawal under international supervision and the deployment of a stabilization force.

Smotrich and Strook insist the official document differs substantially from the version presented to ministers during cabinet discussions. They demand the cabinet reconvene to prevent a dangerous security situation in Gaza and require the Gaza Peace Council to amend the roadmap. So far, Netanyahu has not responded to their letter. A government source stated Israel will maintain its current stance in Gaza and continue thwarting threats to its citizens and soldiers.

Opposition leader Yair Lapid criticized the ministers, questioning who provided them with false information and demanding they clarify their accusations, emphasizing that such serious claims require naming the responsible party.