THE Israeli prime minister’s public rejection of the US-backed Gaza roadmap came as little surprise. Last month, the Board of Peace (BoP) announced a 15-point plan to implement the next phases of President Donald Trump’s peace initiative. Brokered by the US, agreement on the plan was announced by Trump on July 30. He called this a “major milestone”. The 15-point document’s aim was to move the peace process forward by reaffirming and fleshing out specific commitments for implementation by the parties to the conflict.

The second of the 15 points required Israel to abide by all “remaining obligations” under the Sharm el-Sheikh Memorandum especially an end to its military operations. It called on Hamas and other Palestinian factions to cease their military actions under the peace plan. The 15 points also detailed the framework for Gaza’s governance including the National Committee for the Administration of Gaza’s (NCAG) responsibilities for running the Strip. Composed of Palestinian technocrats, the transitional body was established by the BoP in January. But it was prevented by Israel from entering Gaza. It has since remained stuck in Cairo. The 15-point framework makes it clear that in the specified timetable NCAG must enter the Strip and start to assume day-to-day governance.

The roadmap involves reciprocal steps. It mandates a link between decommissioning of armed militias including Hamas and “an Israeli withdrawal, in phases, from areas under its control in Gaza”. Point 13 commits Israeliforces “to complete their phased withdrawal from Gaza Strip according to an agreed upon timetable”. The plan provides for the inventorying........

© Dawn