Israeli Officials Say Israel Complies with Gaza Agreement Despite Public Denials

Officials from the Israeli Peace Council expressed confusion over Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's recent public statements opposing the 15-point Gaza agreement, asserting that Israel is in fact implementing the deal on the ground. They told N12 that while Israel maintains the ceasefire and has halted targeted killings as required, the government publicly denies compliance, creating an absurd situation where Israel pays a double price by adhering to the agreement yet losing international credit to counter Hamas if violations occur.

The officials emphasized that the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) controls 53% of the Gaza Strip and strictly observes the ceasefire terms. They questioned whether the political considerations behind the public denials are worth the diplomatic and security costs Israel faces.

Separately, Israeli security sources revealed discussions about potential withdrawals from three areas near Rafah in southern Gaza, with plans to replace IDF forces with a multinational contingent as part of a pilot program. Netanyahu reportedly participated in these talks and initially approved the plan. However, the Prime Minister's Office denied any agreement to withdraw forces, stating Netanyahu has not consented to any pullback in Gaza.

Nikolay Mladenov, director of the Peace Council, clarified that no actions would be taken before on-the-ground steps are implemented and that any Israeli withdrawal would be gradual and contingent on progress in disarmament. The plan includes dismantling all weapons in Gaza, including assault rifles, tunnels, and production sites.

This internal discord between Israel's actual compliance with the ceasefire and the government's public stance has raised concerns about the impact on Israel's international standing and its ability to respond to Hamas violations effectively.