Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has rejected a US-backed 15-point plan for Gaza, insisting that Israeli forces will not withdraw from the territory until Hamas has been fully disarmed. The move marks a significant public disagreement with US President Donald Trump over the next stage of the Gaza process.
Speaking at an Israeli cabinet meeting on Sunday, Netanyahu said Israel did not accept the 15-point framework. He insisted that disarmament must be genuine and comprehensive, covering Hamas’s weaponry before Israeli military withdrawals take place.
The dispute centres largely on sequencing. The US-backed proposal envisages Hamas surrendering its weapons to a new Palestinian governing body while Israeli forces withdraw in phases alongside the disarmament process. Netanyahu, however, is rejecting parallel implementation and demanding that Hamas disarm before the Israeli military pulls back.
Hamas endorsed the 15-point framework in late July, although significant disagreements over how disarmament and Israeli withdrawal would work have remained. The US-led Board of Peace subsequently said Israeli withdrawal would follow “complete” disarmament, reflecting some of Israel’s concerns over the original sequencing.
Netanyahu’s position adds another obstacle to efforts to move beyond the current ceasefire framework. The October ceasefire has reduced the intensity of Israeli operations in Gaza but has not brought them to a complete end. A durable settlement would require agreement not only on disarmament and troop withdrawals, but also on Gaza’s future governance and security arrangements.
The disagreement also carries political significance inside Israel. Netanyahu faces pressure from right-wing allies opposed to concessions over Gaza, while Israel is approaching elections and polls indicate a competitive political environment.
For Washington, Israel’s rejection complicates an initiative Trump had presented as a major step toward stabilising Gaza. For Palestinians, the unresolved sequencing dispute leaves uncertainty over Israeli withdrawal and the territory’s future administration.
The latest development does not mean the diplomatic process has ended. Netanyahu said discussions with the Americans were continuing, but Israel’s position makes clear that the current 15-point framework has not secured agreement from all sides.
