Israel's far-right coalition leaders have turned down a US-backed proposal for post-war governance in Gaza, with key finance minister Bezalel Smotrich calling on Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to annex the territory and establish new Israeli settlements.
Smotrich described Netanyahu's reluctance to take responsibility for Gaza as "the original sin," and instead advocated for a military government that would encourage immigration and settlement. This stance has sparked tensions, particularly with Turkey and Qatar, which have been critical of Israel's actions in Gaza.
The US-backed plan includes representatives from these countries, along with others, on an executive board aimed at providing guidance to the Palestinian committee tasked with governing Gaza. However, Smotrich expressed his disapproval, stating that "countries that inspired Hamas cannot be the ones that replace it." He claimed that any country supporting Hamas would face severe consequences.
Netanyahu's government has struggled to contain its far-right allies, who have refused to accept a US-brokered ceasefire agreement struck in October. The prime minister has faced pressure from his coalition partners and the international community to manage the situation effectively.
The US plan involves multiple bodies, including an executive board with advisory role and a Palestinian committee responsible for governing Gaza. The proposal includes a financial component, where member states would contribute $1 billion in cash if they want their membership to last more than three years.
Critics argue that this plan is overly ambitious and escalates diplomatic efforts amid persistent violence from the Israeli military. At least 451 Palestinians have been reported killed since the ceasefire took effect in October last year, with life in Gaza remaining precarious due to ongoing airstrikes and gunfire.
Smotrich described Netanyahu's reluctance to take responsibility for Gaza as "the original sin," and instead advocated for a military government that would encourage immigration and settlement. This stance has sparked tensions, particularly with Turkey and Qatar, which have been critical of Israel's actions in Gaza.
The US-backed plan includes representatives from these countries, along with others, on an executive board aimed at providing guidance to the Palestinian committee tasked with governing Gaza. However, Smotrich expressed his disapproval, stating that "countries that inspired Hamas cannot be the ones that replace it." He claimed that any country supporting Hamas would face severe consequences.
Netanyahu's government has struggled to contain its far-right allies, who have refused to accept a US-brokered ceasefire agreement struck in October. The prime minister has faced pressure from his coalition partners and the international community to manage the situation effectively.
The US plan involves multiple bodies, including an executive board with advisory role and a Palestinian committee responsible for governing Gaza. The proposal includes a financial component, where member states would contribute $1 billion in cash if they want their membership to last more than three years.
Critics argue that this plan is overly ambitious and escalates diplomatic efforts amid persistent violence from the Israeli military. At least 451 Palestinians have been reported killed since the ceasefire took effect in October last year, with life in Gaza remaining precarious due to ongoing airstrikes and gunfire.
It's gonna cause so much more suffering for innocent people living there! And Netanyahu's all about keeping his coalition together but really it just means he's prioritizing his own politics over human lives. 
The thought of a military government in Gaza is super concerning too - I mean, how can that possibly promote peace? 
At least the US has tried to propose a plan for some semblance of governance... 
It's like they're trying to outdo each other in a game of "Who Can Be More Infuriating". Bezalel Smotrich is just giving Netanyahu some major side-eye, calling him out for not wanting to take responsibility. Newsflash, Bez: if you wanna annex Gaza, just own it, don't make a big show of it 
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. I mean, I get that tensions are high, but do they really need a financial stick to make them comply?
. Maybe we should just throw our hands up and say "Peace out, world" 
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. Like, come on, have we learned nothing from Iraq? Or Libya? Just because some countries are backing Hamas doesn't mean we should be giving them a seat at the table 
. And let's be real, Turkey and Qatar are just trying to stick it to Israel - they don't actually care about Gaza 
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. Just my two cents 
If Bezalel Smotrich is really pushin' for annexation and settlin', that's just a smokescreen for the real agenda. What about all those billions of dollars flowin' into Gaza? It's like the US wants to prop up Israel's far-right government, even if it means bankrollIN' the very people they claim to be fightin' against... Hamas, I mean. 
I'm getting really worried about the situation in Gaza... it's like they're not taking responsibility for their actions at all 
. Bezalel Smotrich is being super extreme and calling on Netanyahu to annex Gaza? That's a huge escalation of tensions! 
And what about the $1 billion plan from the US? Is that just gonna be another way for countries to exert control over Palestine without actually doing anything concrete about the situation? 
At least 451 people have been killed already... we need to do something to stop this violence ASAP 
Can't we all just try to live in peace and respect each other's rights? 
. The idea of a US-backed plan that includes countries like Turkey and Qatar is a good one, but it seems like Netanyahu's government is just going to ignore it anyway 
Has he even been to Gaza? The fact that they're refusing to accept a ceasefire agreement from October and instead pushing for more military action is just devastating 
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. Interesting how the US is trying to broker this peace plan but it's getting shot down left and right 
. Israel's far-right coalition leaders are being super unreasonable 
. Annexing the territory and establishing new settlements is just a recipe for disaster 
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. The ceasefire agreement was supposed to bring peace, but it seems like Israel is just trying to delay the inevitable 
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. Smotrich's idea of a military government that encourages immigration and settlement? That's just a recipe for more chaos and instability 
. The US has a role to play, but it seems like they're not taking into account the real interests at stake 
. Meanwhile, Netanyahu is just trying to keep his far-right coalition happy, even if it means alienating other countries 
Netanyahu's gotta get his coalition partners under control and figure out a way to make peace, not just continue to fuel the fire 
. Netanyahu's reluctance to take responsibility for Gaza is not only frustrating, but it's also perpetuating a cycle of violence that benefits nobody. The US plan, while well-intentioned, seems overly complicated and naive given the current state of affairs. I mean, who wouldn't be skeptical about countries that have been critical of Israel in the past being part of an executive board that guides the Palestinian committee? 
. We need more than just words; we need actions that truly address the root causes of the conflict.