Israeli Officials Say Israel Complies with Gaza Agreement Despite Public Denials

Officials from the Israeli Peace Council expressed confusion over Jerusalem's contradictory stance regarding the 15-point Gaza agreement. They claim that while Israel is implementing the agreement on the ground, including maintaining the ceasefire and halting targeted killings, public statements by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu suggest opposition to the plan. According to these officials, Israel controls 53% of the Gaza Strip and is adhering to the ceasefire terms, yet publicly denies compliance, causing Israel to pay a "double and costly price" by losing international credit that could justify action against Hamas if violations occur.

Recent discussions within Israel's security establishment have considered partial withdrawals from three areas near Rafah in Gaza, with plans to replace Israeli forces with a multinational contingent. Netanyahu reportedly participated in these talks and initially approved the plan, but his office later denied any agreement to withdrawals. The Peace Council's CEO, Nikolay Mladenov, emphasized that no actions would be taken before implementation on the ground and that withdrawals would be gradual and contingent on progress in disarmament, which includes all weapons, tunnels, and production sites.

This internal discord highlights tensions between Israel's operational policies in Gaza and the political messaging presented publicly. The officials question whether the political considerations behind denying the agreement publicly are worth the diplomatic and security costs Israel faces internationally.