Netanyahu Rejects Trump’s 15-Point Gaza Peace Plan: Israel Refuses Withdrawal Until Hamas Disarms

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has formally rejected the United States-backed 15-point peace proposal for the Gaza Strip, creating a stark diplomatic divide with Washington over post-conflict governance and military positioning.

The diplomatic friction centers on competing roadmaps for the Palestinian enclave. While international negotiators pushed a phased transition aimed at demilitarizing Hamas and scaling back Israeli military operations, Netanyahu doubled down on hardline security demands.

“I want to be precise here: Israel rejects the 15-point document,” Netanyahu said during the weekend cabinet session, as reported by the New York Post. The prime minister added that Israel will maintain its military footprint until security conditions change fundamentally.

“We are now discussing this with the Americans,” Netanyahu noted, according to the New York Post. “They have ideas, some of which are acceptable to us and some are not, and we know how to stand up to those things.”

The 15-Point Proposal and the Stumbling Blocks on Demilitarization

The rejected framework emerged following months of intense diplomatic maneuvering. Last month, proponents of the peace push claimed a breakthrough, suggesting an agreement had been reached for Hamas to disarm in exchange for a full Israeli military withdrawal from the Gaza Strip. However, the Israeli government immediately voiced skepticism regarding the sincerity of the militant group’s commitments.

Under the terms advanced by mediators, Palestinian factions conditioned their acceptance on Israel pulling its forces back to the designated “yellow line” outlined in an earlier 20-point peace plan drafted last October. That overarching framework envisioned a three-stage process involving an immediate ceasefire, humanitarian aid delivery, subsequent demilitarization, reconstruction, and eventual recognition of Palestinian statehood.

Instead of scaling back, Israeli forces currently maintain ground positions across more than half of the Gaza Strip, including key sectors in the east and south. Furthermore, several members of Netanyahu’s ruling coalition have publicly advocated for expanding military operations within the enclave rather than withdrawing.

Netanyahu made his position unequivocal regarding territorial concessions and sovereignty. “As long as I am prime minister, no Palestinian state will be established — not in Gaza and not in the West Bank,” he declared, as cited by the New York Post.

Friction Between Allies and Political Pressures in Jerusalem

The public split highlights a cooling in relations between Netanyahu and key Western leaders who have pressed for a sustainable diplomatic horizon. Despite previous close alignment, disagreements over post-war security architecture have strained discussions. Netanyahu emphasized that national defense priorities supersede international pressure.

“Contrary to all those who preach to us, we do what must be done for Israel’s security and we can and will stand our ground even against our best friends when necessary,” Netanyahu stated during his weekend remarks, according to the New York Post.

Netanyahu faces a consequential general election scheduled for October, and his governing coalition currently lags in public opinion polling.

In response to the Israeli rejection, leadership within Hamas urged international guarantors to intervene. Bassem Naim, a senior member of the Hamas politburo, took to social media to call for increased pressure on the Israeli government.

“We expect the mediators and the American guarantor to pressure Netanyahu and his government to adhere to the roadmap and not obstruct the process for internal political and electoral reasons,” Naim posted on X, as documented by the New York Post.

Next Steps in the Diplomatic Impasse

With the 15-point peace plan effectively stalled by Israel’s refusal to withdraw or negotiate under the proposed terms, international mediators face an uphill battle to revive talks. The immediate focus remains on whether bilateral channels between Washington and Jerusalem can bridge the gap over security enforcement and the future of military positioning in Gaza ahead of the autumn electoral cycle.