Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu rejected a 15-point Gaza peace plan endorsed by former U.S. President Donald Trump, emphasizing that Israeli forces will not withdraw from Gaza until Hamas is completely disarmed. Netanyahu’s statement came during a cabinet meeting, where he described the plan as unacceptable in its current form.
The plan, unveiled last month by Trump’s Board of Peace, outlines a phased withdrawal of Israeli troops contingent upon Hamas surrendering its weapons. The roadmap includes the establishment of an International Stabilization Force alongside a Palestinian police force to secure Gaza.
Despite rejecting the roadmap, Netanyahu affirmed ongoing dialogues with Washington, calling Trump “our greatest friend in the White House” but asserting Israel must stand firm on issues it deems unacceptable.
Details of the U.S.-Backed Gaza Plan
The U.S.-mediated 15-point roadmap aims to end hostilities in Gaza by requiring Hamas to disarm first, holding all weapons from heavy to light arms. Hamas, which is designated a terrorist group by Israel, the U.S., and the EU, agreed to store its weapons under a technocratic Palestinian administration supervised by the Board of Peace. Hamas conditions its full compliance on Israel withdrawing its troops and ceasing attacks.
Bassem Naim, a Hamas political bureau member, urged mediators and the American guarantor to pressure Netanyahu’s government to follow the roadmap and avoid political obstruction.
International and Political Reactions
Nickolay Mladenov, the Board of Peace’s Gaza representative, stated that Israeli obligations begin only after Hamas has surrendered all its weapons, including assault rifles. He envisions a gradual “sector by sector” withdrawal of Israeli troops once disarmament is verified, calling the current proposal the “only way forward” to prevent another conflict like the Hamas attacks on October 7, 2023.
Netanyahu’s stance reflects pressures at home from far-right government members opposing any concessions to Hamas; Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich supported the position, stressing the goal of destroying Hamas and refusing any territorial withdrawal.
Context of Israeli Elections and Ongoing Conflict
The rejection occurs weeks ahead of Israel’s national elections scheduled for October 27, the first since Hamas’s attacks triggered the current military campaign in Gaza. Polls show Netanyahu competing closely or trailing his rivals.
Since a ceasefire mediated in October 2025, over 1,250 Palestinians have been killed in Israeli attacks, according to Gaza health officials, with five Israeli soldiers reported killed. Despite talks over the roadmap, Israeli forces maintain control over large Gaza areas, while over two million residents face displacement and crowded living conditions in a diminished coastal zone.
