Israel Doesn’t Want Trump’s 15-Point Plan for Gaza; Netanyahu Says Hamas Must First Disarm

Israel has dismissed Trump’s 15-point Gaza plan, with Netanyahu asserting that Hamas must disarm prior to the withdrawal of Israeli forces from the territory.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has dismissed US President Donald Trump’s 15-point plan for Gaza, asserting that Israeli forces will remain in place until Hamas is “genuinely” disarmed.

Trump’s Board of Peace announced last month that it had come to an agreement for the “complete disarmament” of Hamas and other armed groups in Gaza.

Hamas stated that the transfer of its heavy weapons would depend on Israel ceasing “all forms of aggression” and withdrawing its forces from the territory.

On Sunday, a senior official from the Board of Peace asserted that the US-backed plan was the sole path ahead.

Israel has persisted in conducting strikes on Gaza following its agreement to an initial ceasefire in the territory last October.

“Israel rejects the 15-point document,” Netanyahu stated during a cabinet meeting on Sunday.

The Israeli military stated that it “will not carry out any withdrawal until Hamas is genuinely disarmed and will continue to thwart threats against our forces and our citizens,” he added.

A Hamas official informed the BBC on Sunday that the group “reaffirms its commitment” to the agreement and is prepared “to engage seriously and responsibly in implementing” the 15-point plan.

The official urged mediators to guarantee that all parties adhere to the agreements made.

Israel’s rejection delivers another setback to Trump’s Gaza peace plan, whichits unveiled in September of the previous year.

The plan proposed the establishment of the Board of Peace to oversee its implementation, along with the disarmament of Hamas, the withdrawal of Israeli troops, and the reconstruction of Gaza.

Netanyahu’s stance was anticipated, yet his public denial underscores the challenging situation confronting the Israeli leader.

He has voiced disagreement with certain aspects of Trump’s plan while also aiming to preserve connections with the US president, Israel’s nearest ally.

Just over a week has passed since Trump declared what he referred to as a “monumental step toward lasting peace and security,” following Hamas’s agreement to disarm for the first time, contingent upon Israel’s withdrawal of its forces from Gaza.

On Sunday, Netanyahu emphasized that such a withdrawal would not take place under his administration.

He stated that Hamas must disarm initially and emphasized that it could not be a mere “fictitious disarmament” but needed to be authentic.

Any disarmament and withdrawal of Israeli forces would likely need to occur in stages.

Netanyahu stated that he is currently in discussions with US officials regarding the path ahead.

“They have ideas; some of them align with our views while others do not, and we are confident in our ability to maintain our position on these issues,” he stated.

With Israeli elections approaching and pressure mounting from his right-wing coalition to uphold a firm stance on Gaza, Netanyahu is not expected to offer significant concessions.

Members of the far-right faction within the coalition have urged for a new cabinet vote to terminate the Gaza plan.

National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir has rejected the draft, calling it “not acceptable.”

Nickolay Mladenov, a senior diplomat assigned to carry out Trump’s peace plan, defended the proposal on Sunday, stating that discussions were ongoing with the hope of achieving a “positive outcome.

The high representative for Gaza from the Board of Peace informed Israel’s Channel 12 that Israel had been urged “to give the process a chance.”

He stated that the plan was “the only way forward” to guarantee there would be no recurrence of the 7 October 2023 attack by Hamas.

Mladenov stated that the plan was constructed around a process that is “verifiable, reversible, can be halted at each stage, and has been developed with a clear understanding of the challenges that lie ahead.”

He also stated that Israel would not be obligated to withdraw until it could be confirmed that Hamas was making progress toward disarmament.

As reported by the United Nations, approximately 1.9 million individuals, representing 90% of Gaza’s population, have been displaced since the onset of the war.

The conflict was initiated by the Hamas-led assault on southern Israel on 7 October 2023, resulting in approximately 1,200 fatalities and 251 individuals being taken hostage.

Israel initiated a military campaign in Gaza, resulting in over 73,000 fatalities, as reported by the territory’s health ministry. The United Nations regards the ministry’s figures as trustworthy.