Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has formally rejected President Donald Trump's 15-point peace plan for Gaza, asserting that Israeli military forces will remain in the territory until Hamas is genuinely disarmed. During a meeting with government ministers on Sunday, the Prime Minister emphasized that he is seeking actual disarmament rather than a "fictitious" process.
The rejection comes despite President Trump’s public optimism regarding the initiative. In late July, Trump posted on social media that the Board of Peace had secured a historic agreement for the complete disarmament of Hamas and other armed groups in Gaza, describing it as a monumental step toward lasting security. However, a senior Hamas official previously informed reporters that the group would only consider surrendering their weapons if Israeli forces withdrew from parts of Gaza first.
The 15-point roadmap, published by the U.S. on July 31, was designed to address complex issues that were left out of earlier negotiations. An initial phase of the plan had already established a pause in major fighting, the release of remaining hostages in exchange for approximately 2,000 Palestinian prisoners, and increased humanitarian aid, alongside a partial Israeli withdrawal. The new roadmap aimed to transition toward total Israeli withdrawal and full Hamas disarmament as a phased process.
Despite this, the Board of Peace has supported Netanyahu’s position, stating on August 3 that Israeli forces would not withdraw beyond the "Yellow Line" until the decommissioning of Hamas weapons is verified. Netanyahu’s firm stance arrives with Israel’s October 27 election less than three months away, a period during which polls suggest his coalition risks losing its parliamentary majority. Currently, Palestinian officials and aid agencies estimate that Israel maintains control over roughly 70% of Gaza. In response to the latest developments, Hamas issued a press statement on Sunday reaffirming its commitment to the roadmap originally agreed upon.
