US apparently convinced Israel is complying with BoP Gaza peace plan, despite Netanyahu's public rejection

Despite Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s public declarations, the situation in the Gaza Strip and Israel’s level of commitment to the U.S.-backed peace plan remain unclear.

One report on Monday said Israel told the U.S. it is not willing to halt targeted killings of terrorists who took part in the Oct. 7, 2023 invasion, despite the Board of Peace having urged a complete halt of military operations.

Meanwhile, other reports suggested that Israel is working to advance the peace plan behind the scenes, and that the U.S. and the BoP believe Israel to be on board, despite Netanyahu’s public rejection of the BoP’s latest framework aiming to disarm Hamas and demilitarize the strip.

On Sunday, Netanyahu declared that Israel “didn’t accept” the 15-point framework while adding that negotiations continued. “The IDF will not carry out any withdrawal until Hamas is disarmed. And when I say the disarming of Hamas, it means heavy weaponry, lighter weaponry, all weaponry. And we are talking about genuine disarmament, not fictitious disarmament,” the prime minister said.

However, internal critics quickly accused Netanyahu of orchestrating a public rejection while complying with the U.S. behind the scenes, pointing to the absence of targeted eliminations of terrorists for over a week now.

Channel 13 News reported Monday that Israel agreed to halt the strikes, confirming several other similar reports in recent days. However, the report noted that Jerusalem made clear it will continue hunting and killing those who invaded Israel on Oct. 7.

IDF soldiers speaking to Channel 12 News on Monday again confirmed that the IDF’s rules of engagement were significantly tightened in recent days.

Earlier this week, Army Radio reported that the government had already approved the start of a reconstruction project in the southern town of Rafah two weeks ago.

Summing up their understanding of the situation, BoP officials told Channel 12 outright that “the Israeli government is in fact implementing the 15-point document.”

“The targeted killings have stopped, and the ceasefire is being fully maintained, exactly as both sides were required to do. The IDF is effectively holding the original Yellow Line and controls 53% of the Strip.”

“An absurd situation has emerged,” they said, “in practice, Israel is implementing the document, but publicly it is rejecting it. Under the circumstances, the State of Israel is paying a high double price: on the one hand, it is acting according to the agreement; on the other, it is not receiving international credit for doing so that would enable it to fight Hamas in the event of violations. Is it worth it for the sake of domestic political considerations?”

A BoP official confirmed to Reuters that the disarmament plan is not off the table, and that Israeli officials are continuing to discuss its details.

“The plan is very much still operative and advancing,” the official said, reiterating that it “is based on implementation and verification on the ground. Discussions with Israel are continuing, and the framework is designed so that each stage only moves forward once the required commitments have been met.”

Like the BoP, U.S. President Donald Trump also signaled that the public rejection from Netanyahu had not angered him.

Asked by a reporter in the Oval Office about a response, he said he “put it out today on Truth — a good response.” However, there was no post on the president’s social media platform about this issue.

A few hundred concrete blocks painted yellow now sit at the center of a debate that will shape—no exaggeration—the entire Middle East. On the day the hostages came home, ten months ago, the IDF held 52 percent of the Gaza Strip. Since then, it has expanded to 70 percent. Gazans… pic.twitter.com/qscR8d2g2s

— Amit Segal (@AmitSegal) August 7, 2026

A senior U.S. official told Channel 12’s Barak Ravid on Monday that Trump “is not bothered” by Netanyahu's statement. “We understand Bibi's political needs. We have no problem with it as long as he continues to do what we ask - especially regarding restraining attacks in Gaza.”

Ravid also cited a U.S. official saying that Netanyahu committed to give the 15-point framework “a chance” in a phone call with Trump's envoy Jared Kushner last week.

He also reported that “the IDF is gradually moving back to the Yellow Line.” According to another report from Channel 12 this week, the IDF’s claim to control almost 70% of the strip was based on the location of the yellow concrete barriers on the ground, and the corresponding fields of vision and fire which allow the IDF to control the area—not physical presence.

In this way, the IDF will be able to “withdraw” to the original ceasefire line, which gave it control over 53% of the enclave, by pulling back the barriers while allowing the political leadership to claim that no actual withdrawals are being conducted.