JERUSALEM, Israel — Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has rejected US President Donald Trump’s 15-point plan for Gaza, insisting that Israeli forces will not withdraw from the territory until Hamas is “genuinely” disarmed.
Speaking at a cabinet meeting on Sunday, Netanyahu said Israel would not accept the proposed framework in its current form, dealing another setback to Trump’s efforts to secure a lasting agreement in Gaza.
“Israel rejects the 15-point document,” Netanyahu said.
He added that the Israeli military “will not carry out any withdrawal until Hamas is genuinely disarmed and will continue to thwart threats against our forces and our citizens.”
Netanyahu’s position directly conflicts with Hamas’ stated conditions for implementing the plan. Hamas has said it is prepared to hand over its heavy weapons, but only if Israel ends what it described as “all forms of aggression” and withdraws its forces from Gaza.
A Hamas official told the BBC on Sunday that the group “reaffirms its commitment” to the agreement and is ready “to engage seriously and responsibly in implementing” the 15-point plan.
The official also called on mediators to ensure that all parties comply with the commitments contained in the agreement.
Trump’s Board of Peace said last month that an agreement had been reached for the “complete disarmament” of Hamas and other armed groups in Gaza. Disarmament is one of the central elements of Trump’s broader Gaza framework, alongside an Israeli military withdrawal and the reconstruction of the territory.
The plan was announced by Trump in September last year and envisaged the creation of the Board of Peace to oversee implementation.
However, Netanyahu’s rejection exposes a fundamental disagreement over the sequence in which the plan should be implemented.
While Hamas has linked disarmament to an Israeli withdrawal and an end to military operations, Netanyahu insists that Hamas must first be completely and verifiably disarmed before Israeli troops leave.
Netanyahu said disarmament could not be merely symbolic or temporary, stressing that Israel would require genuine disarmament.
He rejected what he described as “fictitious disarmament”, saying the process must result in Hamas no longer posing a military threat to Israel.
The disagreement comes despite Trump’s recent description of Hamas’ willingness to disarm as a major breakthrough.
Just over a week ago, Trump hailed what he called a “monumental step toward lasting peace and security” after Hamas indicated for the first time that it was prepared to disarm, subject to an Israeli withdrawal from Gaza.
Netanyahu’s latest comments suggest that the Israeli government is not prepared to accept that condition as part of the initial implementation of the agreement.
The Israeli leader’s position also highlights the difficult political balance he faces in dealing with Trump’s administration. While Israel remains one of Washington’s closest allies, Netanyahu’s government has its own security demands and political pressures surrounding the war in Gaza.
Israel has continued military operations in Gaza despite an initial ceasefire agreement reached last October, with the conflict and negotiations over its future remaining highly contentious.
For the peace plan to move forward, mediators will have to bridge the gap between Israel’s demand for prior and verifiable Hamas disarmament and Hamas’ insistence that Israeli forces withdraw and military operations end before it gives up its weapons.
