Ariel Kahana (Israel Hayom) reports that Shin Bet chief David Zini told the security cabinet the 15-point Peace Council roadmap is a 'strategic ambush by Hamas.' The report adds that ministers widely opposed Prime Minister Netanyahu's decision to halt targeted killings in Gaza for two weeks, a concession to the US that many saw as effectively accepting the plan. Kahana details that the plan includes Turkey and Qatar on the verification committee and a clause requiring an international force to separate the IDF from Hamas-controlled areas, rather than disarm the terror group.
Shin Bet chief David Zini told the security cabinet on Friday that the 15-point Peace Council roadmap is a "strategic ambush by Hamas," according to a detailed report by Israel Hayom reporter Ariel Kahana. The report, which emerged later in the day, adds that Zini said Hamas views the plan as a "political October 7" and that the terror group seeks to maintain its power under international cover. Kahana's report also reveals that ministers widely opposed Prime Minister Netanyahu's decision to halt targeted killings against Hamas operatives for two weeks—a concession to U.S. envoys Kushner and Witkoff that many argued effectively implements the plan despite Netanyahu's public rejection. Netanyahu responded that he would consider the ministers' concerns.
The report follows a series of disclosures from the same security cabinet meeting earlier Friday. At 10:52 Jerusalem, The Zioneer initially reported that Zini warned the cabinet the Hamas agreement was a "deception exercise" (version 1). This was followed by reports that he said Hamas sees the roadmap as a "political October 7" (version 2), and a full report from ynet detailing the warning (version 3). Subsequent reports noted that the cabinet rejected entering a 14-day disarmament preparation period that would halt targeted killings, and that Israel has not signed the Peace Council's roadmap (version 4). Later reports added that Zini assessed Hamas is using the deal to block Israeli military action and stalling until after the elections (versions 5 and 6). Over the course of the morning, the reports evolved from a single source to multiple Israeli news outlets corroborating the same details.
The hardening of cabinet opposition comes after The Zioneer reported on Mon Aug 3 that the IDF had set three red lines for any Gaza deal, demanding full Hamas disarmament before any withdrawal. On Thu Jul 30, a political source told Channel 12 that Israel rejects the current framework due to insufficient disarmament provisions. The Peace Council's roadmap, published on Fri Jul 31, includes provisions for heavy weapons to remain under Palestinian control and a verification committee including Turkey and Qatar—a point Kahana's report highlights as problematic. The Zioneer also reported earlier on Friday that Israel had not signed the roadmap document.
The report from Kahana is attributed to unnamed sources and has not been officially confirmed by the Prime Minister's Office or the Shin Bet. The exact status of the targeted killing pause and the cabinet's formal position remain to be clarified in official statements.
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