Israeli rabbis call for Gaza peace plan to be scrapped, oppose international forces

Dozens of senior Israeli rabbis have signed a memorandum addressed to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Defence Minister Israel Katz and members of the security cabinet, calling for the immediate cancellation of the “Board of Peace” plan, particularly its provision to deploy international forces in the Gaza Strip, Hebrew newspaper Israel Hayom reported on Sunday.

The rabbis claimed that “transferring security powers in Gaza to foreign parties could endanger the lives of Israelis and generate conditions for the establishment of a Palestinian state”.

On 30 July, the Board of Peace announced a 15-point roadmap that included disarming Hamas and Palestinian factions, transferring administration of the Gaza Strip to a National Committee and a phased Israeli withdrawal from the territory.

However, Netanyahu rejected the plan on 9 August, insisting that Hamas must be fully disarmed before any Israeli withdrawal.

Hamas responded by calling for international action to compel Israel to implement the roadmap, saying it remained committed to agreements reached with mediators and the Board of Peace.

Far-right Israeli ministers also criticised the plan after it was announced, including Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, who called for Hamas to be fully disarmed before any Israeli withdrawal.

The rabbis claimed that “transferring Israel’s security to foreign parties, certainly to Israel’s enemies, could endanger the lives of all Israelis, and after the Oslo disaster, the same mistake must not be repeated”.