Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has formally rejected a Gaza peace plan put forward under United States backing, declaring that Israel will not accept the 15-point roadmap in its current form. Speaking at a cabinet meeting in Jerusalem on Sunday, Netanyahu made clear that any framework linking Hamas disarmament to an eventual Israeli military withdrawal is a non-starter for his government.
"Israel does not accept the 15-point document," Netanyahu told ministers. "The IDF will not carry out any withdrawal until Hamas is disarmed," he added, referring to the Israel Defense Forces.
What the 15-Point Gaza Peace Plan Proposes
The roadmap, championed by US President Donald Trump — who described it as a milestone for peace — lays out a framework under which Israel and Hamas would halt hostilities. A Palestinian transitional administration, backed by an international stabilisation force, would then assume control of administration and security as Israeli forces gradually pulled back.
Under the plan, Hamas weapons surrendered during the process would be placed under international supervision and remain within Palestinian control. It is this element that Israel has flatly refused, insisting instead that all weapons be physically removed from Palestinian territory entirely — not merely handed over or stored under supervision.
The plan was developed with the involvement of Trump's Board of Peace, an international body established to oversee post-war reconstruction and governance in Gaza. The organisation's high representative for Gaza, Nickolay Mladenov, described the proposal as the "only way forward" to prevent a repeat of the current tragedy.
"The option we are offering today is the only way forward that ensures this tragedy does not happen again," Mladenov said in a television interview. He added that further talks were underway and that he remained hopeful discussions "will lead to a positive outcome for everyone."
The Core Sticking Points: Weapons and Withdrawal
The dispute centres on two deeply entrenched positions. Israel insists Hamas must surrender every weapon — including small arms such as Kalashnikov rifles — before any Israeli military withdrawal takes place. Netanyahu was explicit that this applied to all weapons, not merely heavy military hardware.
Hamas, for its part, has made the surrender of heavy weapons conditional on Israeli forces first withdrawing from Gaza and on the establishment of an independent Palestinian state. Netanyahu also used Sunday's cabinet meeting to reaffirm his longstanding opposition to a Palestinian state, ruling out that prospect entirely.
Mladenov sought to offer reassurances to Israel, walking back earlier language that had suggested a phased Israeli withdrawal could begin before full disarmament was complete. He clarified that Israel would only be expected to pull out after verified, complete Hamas disarmament. "If there is genuine demilitarisation, Israel will withdraw from the Strip," he said.
Mladenov also noted, pointedly, that the current stage of the agreement involves commitments from the US, Hamas, and the Board of Peace — with Israel notably absent from that list.
Netanyahu Pushes Back on Trump — But Carefully
Despite rejecting the plan, Netanyahu was careful to frame his opposition diplomatically, describing Trump as "our greatest friend in the White House." He acknowledged that some elements of the US proposal were acceptable to Israel, while others were not.
"They have ideas; some of them are acceptable to us and some are not, and we know how to stand our ground on these matters," Netanyahu said, confirming that Israel was formally raising its objections with Washington.
The position puts Israel at odds not only with Hamas but also with the US-backed framework Trump has been promoting. For context on the broader regional dynamics at play, see our earlier coverage on Trump denying he is being pressured by Israel.
What Happens Next
Negotiations are continuing despite Israel's rejection of the current document. Mladenov confirmed that discussions remain active and expressed cautious optimism about reaching an eventual agreement. However, with Israel demanding total weapons destruction, Hamas insisting on statehood and full withdrawal before disarming, and the two sides unable to agree on even the basic sequencing of steps, the path to a workable deal remains deeply uncertain.
