The Day Netanyahu Rejected the Peace Council

Morning headlines focused on the White House's formalization of the 'Gaza Peace Council,' naming Jared Kushner, Steven Witkoff, and General Jasper Jeffers to leadership roles. Palestinian editors shifted from previous days' focus on the Cairo-based technocratic committee to this high-level American executive structure. Parallel reports highlighted the lethal impact of a winter storm, prioritizing the death of an infant in Khan Yunis due to extreme cold, alongside ongoing ceasefire violations and Israeli military incursions. By early afternoon, media attention moved to a developing ultimatum from Israel, demanding the complete disarmament of Hamas within two months. This coincided with the Egyptian-led coordination to empower the Gaza Management Committee. The evening coverage was dominated by a sharp diplomatic pivot: Prime Minister Netanyahu officially rejected the composition of the Trump-led Peace Council and the Palestinian technocratic committee. Editors framed this as a direct confrontation with the White House, noting support for Netanyahu’s stance from far-right ministers Ben-Gvir and Smotrich.