Gaza reconstruction plan sparks sharp reaction from Smotrich and Struk

Ministers Bezalel Smotrich and Orit Struk sent a letter to Prime Minister Netanyahu demanding he publicly reject the "Council for Peace" plan for Gaza reconstruction. They argue that the proposed principle of phased disarmament of individual areas contradicts agreements with Israel and the US, and call for no reconstruction to begin until the entire sector is fully disarmed.

Finance Ministers Bezalel Smotrich and Orit Struk sent a joint letter to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu sharply criticizing the "Council for Peace" plan for the reconstruction of the Gaza Strip. The plan reportedly includes 66 projects worth $2.45 billion and $885 million for security expenses. A key point of contention is the principle of phased disarmament: after the disarmament of individual areas, a new Palestinian government is to enter, and the IDF is to leave those territories. The ministers insist this contradicts an agreement reached a month ago with the US administration, according to which reconstruction should not begin until the entire sector is fully disarmed. Smotrich and Struk also expressed concern over the deployment of 5,000 troops from the multinational ISF force, whereas the cabinet previously authorized the entry of only 200 troops exclusively for disarmament. They opposed the purchase of weapons for these forces and the reconstruction of areas adjacent to Israeli communities. The ministers called on Netanyahu to publicly and unequivocally reject the proposed plan.