▶ Watch Video: Why Netanyahu rejected a Trump-backed Gaza peace plan
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday rejected a U.S.-backed Gaza peace plan and vowed there would be no military withdrawal until Hamas is “genuinely” disarmed.
Last month, President Trump hailed the peace plan as a “historic agreement for the complete disarmament of Hamas and all other groups in Gaza.” He said it was negotiated by his international “Board of Peace” and called it a “monumental step toward lasting peace and security.”
On Sunday, after more than a week of gradually escalating criticism of the plan, Netanyahu explicitly opposed it as he faced pushback from his right-wing base ahead of elections.
“Israel rejects the 15-point document,” he said in a cabinet meeting, adding that the military “will not make any withdrawal until Hamas is truly disarmed and will continue to thwart threats against our forces and citizens.”
Under the plan, Israeli forces would withdraw from parts of Gaza as “disarmament is completed,” Mr. Trump said in a Truth Social post on July 30, with an International Stabilization Force and a new Palestinian police force responsible for security.
“This agreement is a critical step towards Gaza finally being governed by a new Palestinian government that will work closely with the Board of Peace to help the Palestinian people,” the president wrote. “At the same time, Israel will have the security it deserves, with Gaza no longer used as a base for terror attacks.”
Netanyahu, who has faced calls from his far-right allies to hold a new cabinet vote and end the Gaza plan, said on Sunday that Israel is speaking with the U.S. about its objections.
“They have ideas, some of which are acceptable to us and some of which are unacceptable to us, and we know how to stand up to these things,” he said. “We have proven this in the past and we are proving it today. In addition, the IDF will continue to thwart threats against our forces and against our citizens.”
Netanyahu said Hamas must give up all of its weapons, a goal that Board of Peace members say is not realistically achievable.
“We are talking about real disarmament, not fictitious disarmament,” Netanyahu said.
In response to Netanyahu’s remarks, Hamas said Sunday that it remains committed to the roadmap reached by the mediators and the Board of Peace.
“Our acceptance of the roadmap, despite all the challenges, reflected a sense of national responsibility upheld by the resistance factions, foremost among them Hamas, in consideration of the interests of the Palestinian people,” said Bassem Naim, a member of the Hamas political bureau, adding that it expects mediators and the U.S. to pressure Netanyahu.
The negotiations stem from a 20-point peace proposal that Mr. Trump offered last fall to end the war between Israel and Hamas. The conflict broke out with Hamas’ terrorist attack on southern Israel on Oct. 7, 2023.
