Benjamin Netanyahu’s rejection of US deal for Gaza is a risky gamble | Benjamin Netanyahu
US politics | The Guardian — 2026-08-10 12:27:00 — www.theguardian.com
Donald Trump Pushes for Permanent Gaza Settlement Amid Netanyahu’s Public Rejection of US-Backed Deal
Donald Trump, who provides vital diplomatic and military backing for Israel, is pressing for a permanent settlement and a return to Palestinian control in Gaza, brokered by the Board of Peace that he created and chairs. This position places Trump at the center of ongoing tensions between the US and Israeli leadership, as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu publicly rejected a new US-backed 15-point plan for Gaza, despite reportedly having discussed and given consent to elements of the plan in private meetings just days earlier.
Trump’s administration has communicated a clear desire for Israel to end its wars in Gaza and Lebanon, as well as to move toward a broader resolution in the region. According to Israeli media, the Trump administration’s message was delivered in person by Adm Brad Cooper, head of US Central Command, who told Israeli officials that the US wanted Israel to shut down all three theaters of operations—Gaza, Lebanon, and Iran.
Despite this, Netanyahu’s public stance has been to resist US pressure, including Trump’s push for a permanent settlement in Gaza. The Israeli prime minister’s rejection of the Board of Peace plan, which Trump has championed, came as a surprise to Israeli commanders and was seen as a pointed rebuke of US goals. The plan itself included a Hamas commitment to give up its weapons, a key Israeli demand, and proposed the establishment of an international force to take over from the Israeli military in certain areas of southern Gaza.
Trump’s approach is further complicated by domestic political considerations in both countries. With Israeli elections looming and US midterms just a week later, both leaders are navigating competing pressures from their political bases and international partners. Netanyahu’s decision to scale back Israeli airstrikes in Gaza and limit offensives in Lebanon has been interpreted as a response to US, and specifically Trump’s, demands. Last year, Netanyahu reportedly ordered fighter jets heading for Iran to turn back at Trump’s insistence.
Meanwhile, Palestinians in Gaza remain in a state of limbo. After Trump brokered a nominal ceasefire last October, which he said would halt fighting and pave the way for reconstruction, Israeli attacks have continued, resulting in over 1,200 deaths and ongoing humanitarian crises. Israel has also blocked the entry of essential supplies needed for rebuilding, leaving the majority of Gaza’s population in dire conditions.
Trump’s push for a permanent settlement and return to Palestinian control in Gaza stands in stark contrast to the hardline positions of Netanyahu’s far-right coalition partners, who advocate for intensified attacks and the establishment of Israeli settlements within Gaza. The ongoing discord between US and Israeli objectives highlights the complexity and volatility of the situation, with Trump’s diplomatic efforts facing significant obstacles both on the ground and within Israel’s political landscape.
As both leaders weigh their political futures, the fate of Gaza remains uncertain, with Trump’s Board of Peace plan stalled and the humanitarian crisis deepening. The coming months will test whether Trump’s push for a permanent settlement can overcome entrenched opposition and bring meaningful change to the region.
Source: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/aug/10/benjamin-netanyahu-rejection-us-deal-gaza-risky-gamble