Phnom penh: Palestinian Foreign Minister Varsen Aghabekian Shahin on Sunday accused Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of seeking to delay a Gaza deal until after Israel's October elections, as Netanyahu formally rejected a U.S.-led peace roadmap.
According to Agence Kampuchea Presse, Shahin expressed her concerns on the official Voice of Palestine radio, stating that Netanyahu "does not want to reach an agreement" and aims to keep Palestinians in a state of uncertainty. She highlighted a "dangerous shift" in settler violence in the West Bank, describing it as more coordinated and armed, which is significantly affecting Palestinians' lives and undermining the prospects for a two-state solution.
Earlier in the day, Netanyahu addressed the weekly cabinet meeting, announcing Israel's rejection of a 15-point Gaza peace roadmap plan presented by the U.S.-led "Board of Peace." He insisted that Israeli forces would not withdraw until Hamas is completely disarmed. "When I say disarming Hamas, I mean the heavy weapons, the less heavy weapons -- all weapons," Netanyahu stated.
In response to Netanyahu's announcement, Hamas reiterated its commitment to the plan in a press statement. The peace plan, drafted in May by Nickolay Mladenov, the "high representative for Gaza" of the "Board of Peace," was officially announced by U.S. President Donald Trump in late July. Trump highlighted that the board had reached an agreement on the "complete disarmament" of Hamas and other armed groups in Gaza.
Following Trump's announcement, Hamas indicated its agreement to the "latest version of the roadmap" for the second phase of the Gaza ceasefire agreement, with conditions for weaponry arrangements hinging on a complete halt to "aggression," Israeli withdrawal from the enclave, and progress on reconstruction.
Since the ceasefire between Hamas and Israel came into effect in October 2025, Gaza-based health authorities report that Israeli attacks have resulted in the deaths of more than 1,250 people and injuries to over 4,100 others in Gaza.