As Israel faced growing criticism from the Board of Peace for its continued strikes on Gaza, despite Hamas’s recent signing of a US-backed disarmament plan, a senior Israeli spokesman said Monday that the roadmap “does not reflect Israel’s positions,” and “stands in direct contrast to the current reality” in the Strip.

Compounding that criticism, an Israeli official said Monday that “Israel will not withdraw from the current line in the Gaza Strip, and will continue to eliminate any threats to our citizens and our soldiers.”

The deal, which both Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad have signed on to, would see Hamas gradually hand over its weapons to a new Palestinian administration in Gaza, but the arms would remain in the territory. It says Gaza will run under the principle of “one authority, one law, one weapon,” and Gazans will be allowed to keep personal weapons subject to licensing from the new government.

It also mandates that Israel begin withdrawing from land it holds in Gaza before Hamas has fully disarmed.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has yet to officially comment on the development, leaving top ministers and anonymous “senior officials” to voice disapproval of the plan, despite US President Donald Trump’s assurance that Israel was “very happy” with the deal.

On Sunday, the Board of Peace’s top Gaza envoy Nickolay Mladenov lamented the previous two days of Israeli strikes in Gaza that “have killed civilians and destroyed medical supplies that people depend on,” and said that the Board was working to “de-escalate and create the space for the full implementation of the president’s plan.”

Following the criticism from the Board of Peace, Prime Minister’s Office spokesman Doron Spielman said Monday that “Israel has conveyed its comments and concerns on the proposed framework to our American counterparts.”

“The version that has been made public does not reflect Israel’s positions,” he said, contradicting earlier statements from Board of Peace officials that Israel was briefed “extensively” as the deal came together.

“Over the past eight months, according to Israeli intelligence, Hamas has used the ceasefire to rearm, recruit thousands of additional terrorists, rebuild its military infrastructure, and prepare for further October 7-style massacres,” Spielman said, stressing that the first clause in the framework envisions a “deradicalized, terror-free zone that does not pose a threat.”

“That vision stands in direct contrast to the current reality and to Hamas’s stated intentions,” he said, calling for the “genuine, verifiable, and........

© The Times of Israel