Israel has rejected a 15-point Gaza peace plan backed by US President Donald Trump, with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu saying Israeli forces will not withdraw from the territory until Hamas is fully disarmed. The rejection creates a significant obstacle to Washington’s latest attempt to advance a political and security settlement in Gaza.
The Trump-backed proposal seeks to establish a phased process in which Hamas would surrender its weapons while Israel gradually withdraws its forces from parts of Gaza. The plan also envisions an international stabilization force and a transition toward Palestinian civilian administration as part of longer-term reconstruction efforts.
Netanyahu, however, has made clear that Israel’s position remains unchanged. He said there would be no Israeli military withdrawal before Hamas undergoes what he described as genuine and complete disarmament. Israeli officials have expressed concerns that withdrawing troops before Hamas gives up its weapons could allow the militant group to rebuild its military capabilities.
The disagreement highlights growing tensions between the Trump administration and the Israeli government over how to implement the Gaza peace process. Although Trump has presented the proposal as an important step toward ending the conflict, Netanyahu’s opposition means negotiations face a major hurdle.
Hamas has indicated that it remains committed to the broader roadmap but has demanded that Israel halt military operations and withdraw its forces as part of the process. The conflicting positions leave the key issue of sequencing unresolved: whether Hamas should disarm before an Israeli withdrawal or whether the two steps should happen simultaneously.
The dispute could determine the future of the ceasefire, Gaza’s reconstruction and efforts to establish a new political and security framework for the territory. For now, Netanyahu’s rejection leaves Trump’s latest Gaza initiative facing serious uncertainty.
