Hebrew Channels: Tensions Escalate Between Netanyahu and Trump Administration Over Gaza

Translation by SadaNews - Hebrew channels reported on Monday evening that there is an escalating state of tension in recent days between Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the U.S. administration regarding Gaza, especially after the formation of the Peace Council and its executive body.

According to Channel 12, as translated by SadaNews, following Netanyahu's recent statement about the formation of the Peace Council and its executive body, the Israeli Prime Minister himself contacted U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, despite his statement indicating that his Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar would be the one to communicate with Rubio.

The channel reported that Rubio made it clear to Netanyahu during the conversation that there was no turning back, and that Qatar and Turkey would also participate the next day in Gaza, including in the Peace Council, executive body, and administrative committee.

Sources from the channel described the call between Netanyahu and Rubio as tense.

According to the channel, Netanyahu was aware that he could not do more after Trump publicly announced the statement about the formation of the Peace Council.

For its part, the Yedioth Ahronoth newspaper website stated that there is a new state of tension with the Trump administration, indicating that the Israeli cabinet decided not to temporarily open the Rafah crossing, as translated by SadaNews.

The website said: Israel feels that Weitkov and Kushner have taken revenge on Netanyahu by involving Qatar and Turkey in the Peace Council and its executive body, in response to the Israeli Prime Minister's insistence on not opening the Rafah crossing before the return of the body of the last hostage.

A senior Israeli official stated that the inclusion of Turkish and Qatari representatives in the council overseeing the reconstruction of Gaza was not included in the original agreements between Israel and the United States, and that the powers and role of this new council are unclear.

Netanyahu said in a Knesset session today: "We are on the verge of the second phase, which means one simple thing: Hamas will be disarmed and dismantled, either the easy way or the hard way."

He added: "Turkish and Qatari soldiers will not be in Gaza... We have a dispute with the United States regarding the formation of the advisory council."