Israeli source to N12: "Heavy US pressure to advance in Gaza, difficult talks underway"
Israel is working to block the 15-point plan previously considered by the government. "The Prime Minister did not initially understand the gravity of the situation, but now realizes its significance," the source stated. Regarding Iran, the source added: "The current situation is the best for us. The Iranian clock is ticking."
An Israeli source confirmed to N12 today (Tuesday) that heavy American pressure is being exerted on Israel to move forward with the 15-point plan in the Gaza Strip, but clarified that Israel is working to block the move. "The Prime Minister did not initially understand how serious the situation was, and only now has begun to understand the significance," the source said.
In recent days, difficult talks have taken place between Benjamin Netanyahu and officials in the American administration. "We pressured him to stand by this position, and he eventually aligned with us and placed an absolute veto on the move. The message conveyed was sharp: we oppose the 15 points," the source added.
The Israeli source explained that when the 15-point plan was published, the government had actually agreed to an alternative in Rafah—to create an experimental model of an area without Hamas. "Hamas is very afraid of this move. Benjamin Netanyahu and Ron Dermer agreed to this initially, but now the position has changed," he explained.
Referencing the interview of Council for Peace CEO Nickolay Mladenov on Channel 12, the source stated: "Our message is clear: there is no such thing as phased disarmament. First, full disarmament of Hamas, and only then can we talk about the next stage. We do not accept disarmament in localized areas or localized withdrawals. We demand full demilitarization of the Strip and are not prepared for partial demilitarization or arrangements for specific areas. In retrospect, it was a mistake to agree to this move in the first place." Mladenov, in his interview, argued that an Israeli withdrawal would be carried out gradually, only in accordance with progress in demilitarization, "dismantling area by area" to avoid unnecessary escalation.
Regarding liquidations in the Gaza Strip, the source told N12: "One should not provoke the Americans with many liquidations or dramatic steps. The goal is not to ignite the situation, but to tighten belts and ensure that no factor on the ground acts as it pleases and endangers the political process."
Regarding Iran, the source noted that the current situation, with the Islamic Republic effectively under siege, is optimal for Israel. "Iran is in a deep economic crisis, and this may be the factor that undermines the regime; therefore, Donald Trump is right," he explained. The source also confirmed reports about Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian’s threats to resign: "He really threatened to resign, and the economic siege is becoming increasingly burdensome for him. If the current situation continues for another two or three months, they may reach a breaking point. When the public cannot make a living, the barrier of fear may be broken. The Iranian clock is ticking: outwardly they receive a message that they have time, but in practice, inside Iran, the economic crisis is worsening and the system is suffocating."
