Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has rejected a US-backed 15-point peace plan for Gaza, insisting that Israeli forces will not withdraw from the territory until Hamas is fully disarmed.
Netanyahu’s rejection threatens to complicate efforts by US President Donald Trump’s administration to secure a lasting ceasefire and bring an end to the conflict in Gaza.Commenting on the proposed framework, Netanyahu said Israel would not accept the 15-point document, making clear that the disarmament of Hamas remains a key condition for any Israeli military withdrawal.
“I want to be precise here: Israel rejects the 15-point document,” Netanyahu said.
He added that Israeli forces would “not withdraw at all until Hamas is genuinely disarmed” and would continue to act against threats to Israeli soldiers and civilians.
The Israeli prime minister also reiterated his opposition to Palestinian statehood, saying that as long as he remains in office, no Palestinian state would be established in either Gaza or the West Bank.
The comments come as the Trump administration seeks to advance a roadmap aimed at ending the war and establishing a longer-term political and security arrangement for Gaza.
Netanyahu’s rejection represents another setback for Trump’s Gaza peace plan, which was announced in September last year.The plan included the creation of the Board of Peace to oversee implementation of the agreement, as well as the disarmament of Hamas, the withdrawal of Israeli troops and the reconstruction of Gaza.
Hamas has said it remains committed to the broader roadmap but has demanded that Israel halt its military strikes in Gaza and withdraw its troops to the agreed “yellow line” before proceeding with the deal.
A senior Hamas official, Bassem Naim, urged US mediators to pressure Netanyahu to follow the proposed roadmap and avoid obstructing the process.
Meanwhile, far-right members of Netanyahu’s coalition have welcomed his position, with Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich saying Israeli forces should not retreat from Gaza.Netanyahu said Israel would continue discussions with Washington, acknowledging that some US proposals were acceptable while others were not.
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