Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has rejected a 15-point Gaza peace plan backed by United States President Donald Trump, saying Israel will not accept the proposal in its current form.
Gatekeepers News reports that Netanyahu made his position known during a cabinet meeting on Sunday, saying Israeli forces would not withdraw from Gaza until Hamas is fully disarmed. He stressed that the disarmament must cover both heavy and light weapons, as well as all other weaponry held by the Palestinian militant group.
The proposal, developed under Trump’s Board of Peace, seeks to advance the next phase of efforts to end the conflict in Gaza. A key element is the disarmament of Hamas in exchange for a phased Israeli military withdrawal from the territory. The plan also envisages transferring governance of Gaza to an independent Palestinian National Committee.
However, Netanyahu’s rejection has exposed a significant disagreement between the Israeli government and the Trump administration over how the proposed arrangement should be implemented. Israeli officials have previously communicated reservations about the plan to Washington.
Netanyahu also indicated that Israel would continue to make decisions based on what it considers its national security interests, even when those positions differ from those of its closest ally, the United States.
The development could further complicate efforts to secure a lasting settlement in Gaza, particularly as Hamas has also resisted demands for complete disarmament. Mediators now face the challenge of bridging the gap between Israel’s insistence on full disarmament before withdrawal and Hamas’ position on its future role in Gaza.
The rejection also marks a rare public disagreement between Netanyahu and Trump over Gaza policy and could put additional strain on US-Israel relationship as Washington seeks to advance its proposed framework for ending the conflict.
