Netanyahu rejects US-backed ceasefire formula

Binyamin Netanyahu said on September 2 that Israeli forces would remain in Gaza, rejecting a U.S.-backed ceasefire formula that called for an Israeli withdrawal from positions held by the military. The Israeli prime minister made the remarks during a visit to Israeli forces in the enclave, his first such visit since the ceasefire announced on October 10, according to multiple reports. Hamas responded by saying it had urgently contacted regional mediators and Nickolay Mladenov, described by the group as the Board of Peace’s high representative for Gaza, to press for action against what it called Israeli violations of the truce. Gaza’s Hamas-run health ministry says more than 900 people have been killed this year despite the ceasefire and more than 1,300 since October 10. ### What did Netanyahu say in Gaza? Netanyahu said on Wednesday that Israel was “not retreating” and would keep a military presence in Gaza despite mediation efforts tied to a U.S.-backed ceasefire plan. Arab News and other reports said the proposal envisaged an Israeli withdrawal from current positions, a point Netanyahu publicly rejected during the visit. (arabnews.com) The Gaza visit came after a recent Israeli commando raid that regional coverage described as a major trigger for renewed tension around the ceasefire. The National, cited in search results, said Netanyahu vowed “no retreat” after what it called a “terrifying” raid. ### Why is Hamas appealing to mediators now? Hamas said on Tuesday it had made urgent contacts with regional mediators and with Mladenov to demand pressure on Israel to halt what it called escalating military violations and to uphold the existing ceasefire agreement. (arabnews.com) The group’s statement, as reported by anews, framed the latest Israeli actions as a breach of the truce rather than a collapse formally acknowledged by the parties. (msn.com) Nickolay Mladenov was identified in that report as the Board of Peace’s high representative for Gaza. Hamas said it wanted mediators and guarantors to take a “clear position” on the latest escalation, according to the same account. ### What do the casualty figures show? The Hamas-run Gaza health ministry says more than 900 people have been killed in Gaza this year despite the ceasefire. (anews.com.tr) BBC reporting relayed in search results said the total number killed since October 10 had risen above 1,300, including 301 children. Those figures are from Gaza’s health authorities and have been cited by outside news organizations as ministry data. (anews.com.tr) The numbers underscore that attacks and military operations have continued even with a ceasefire framework nominally in place. ### What is happening with the ceasefire formula itself? Recent mediation efforts were aimed at advancing a U.S.-backed formula that would deal directly with Israeli troop deployments in Gaza. (yahoo.com) RTÉ and Arab News reported that Netanyahu’s remarks were made against that diplomatic push, which called for Israeli forces to leave their current positions. Earlier reporting cited in search results said Israeli objections had already complicated the plan and that mediators had been trying to narrow differences over the terms of any withdrawal and disarmament steps. Those reports also said pressure had been building on Netanyahu from ministers on the right of his coalition. ### Who is trying to move the talks forward? Qatar remains one of the named regional players publicly commenting on the diplomatic track. (arabnews.com) The Peninsula Qatar reported on September 2 that a Qatari foreign ministry spokesman said the world could not accept the regional status quo, linking the stalled diplomatic process to broader instability. (newarab.com) September 2 now marks a new public split between the ceasefire formula under discussion and Israel’s declared military position on the ground. Any next step is likely to run through the same mediators Hamas says it contacted urgently, along with the U.S.-backed channel focused on Israeli troop positions in Gaza. (anews.com.tr) (arabnews.com)