Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has firmly rejected a U.S.-brokered 15-point plan aimed at advancing the Gaza peace process, stating that Israel will not withdraw its forces from the region until Hamas is fully disarmed. During a cabinet meeting on Sunday, Netanyahu reiterated his stance that no Palestinian state will be established under his leadership, either in Gaza or the West Bank. His comments come amid ongoing tensions over the implementation of a U.S.-backed roadmap designed to bring an end to the conflict in Gaza. Netanyahu emphasized that Israel would not consider withdrawing from Gaza unless Hamas is completely disarmed, including all types of weaponry, both heavy and light. “When I say disarm Hamas, that means heavy weapons, less-heavy weapons, all weapons. And we are talking about real disarmament, not a fictitious disarmament,” he stated. The Israeli leader also confirmed that discussions with the United States regarding the plan are ongoing, though certain aspects of the proposal are deemed unacceptable by his government. “We are now discussing this with the Americans. They have ideas, some of which are acceptable to us and some are not, and we know how to stand up to those things,” Netanyahu said. The U.S. proposal, announced by President Donald Trump at the end of July, outlines a phased approach to ending the war in Gaza, including the disarmament of Hamas and other armed groups, the withdrawal of Israeli forces, and the transfer of governance of the enclave to a Palestinian technocratic body. However, Netanyahu’s rejection of the plan marks a significant setback for Trump’s efforts to achieve a breakthrough in the conflict. Hamas has expressed its continued commitment to the roadmap agreed upon with mediators and representatives of Trump’s Peace Council in Cairo 10 days ago. A senior Hamas official, Basem Naim, told Reuters that the group expects mediators and the United States to press Netanyahu and his government to adhere to the roadmap. “We remain committed to the roadmap agreed with mediators and representatives of the Peace Council in Cairo,” Naim said. Hamas insists that Israel must first fulfill its obligations, including halting attacks and adhering to commitments made under the earlier ceasefire agreement, before considering disarmament. The divergence between Israel and Hamas highlights the complexity of implementing the U.S.-backed plan. While Trump hailed the roadmap as a “major milestone” and a “great breakthrough” shortly after its announcement, both sides remain far apart on how to proceed. An Israeli political source indicated that Gaza was not discussed during Netanyahu’s recent meeting with Trump in Washington, raising questions about the alignment between the two leaders on the plan’s implementation. According to the 15-point roadmap, Israel and Hamas would first need to complete their existing ceasefire commitments before moving to the next phase. This includes Hamas and other Palestinian factions handing over Gaza’s civil administration and internal security to the National Committee for the Administration of Gaza, a Palestinian technocratic body proposed to govern the enclave during the transition. However, Hamas has maintained that Israel must first halt its attacks and fulfill commitments under the earlier ceasefire agreement before considering disarmament. A senior Hamas official, Ghazi Hamad, noted that the group is prepared to accept a “difficult and painful” agreement but stopped short of endorsing immediate disarmament. He stressed that Israel would first have to implement the initial phase of the Sharm el-Sheikh agreement, including ending attacks, withdrawing its forces to earlier positions, and allowing greater flows of goods and humanitarian aid into Gaza. Only after these steps would Hamas agree to placing its weapons under the control of the National Committee for the Administration of Gaza. Despite Trump’s optimism about the roadmap, the path to its successful implementation appears fraught with challenges. Both Israel and Hamas have raised conditions that complicate the process, and the extent of U.S. influence in mediating these differences remains uncertain. As the situation unfolds, the international community continues to monitor developments closely, awaiting further actions from all parties involved.
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