Israel rejects Trump’s 15-point plan for Gaza, says no troop withdrawal until Hamas disarms

Israel has rejected key elements of US President Donald Trump’s 15-point plan for Gaza, with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu saying Israeli forces will not withdraw from the territory until Hamas is fully disarmed.

Netanyahu said Israel was discussing the proposal with Washington but made clear that several parts of the plan were unacceptable to his government.

Netanyahu rejects 15-point proposal

“Israel rejects the 15-point document,” Netanyahu said at a cabinet meeting on Sunday, referring to the plan endorsed by Hamas in late July.

He said the Israeli military would not withdraw from Gaza until Hamas had been “genuinely disarmed” and would continue to act against threats to Israeli troops and civilians.

Netanyahu stressed that disarmament would have to be comprehensive.

“When I say disarm Hamas, that means heavy weapons, less-heavy weapons, all weapons,” he said, adding that Israel would demand “real disarmament, not a fictitious disarmament.”

Israel and US continue discussions

Netanyahu said Israel remained in talks with the Trump administration over the proposal, despite its objections to parts of the framework.

“They have ideas, some of them are acceptable to us and some are not, and we know how to stand our ground on these matters,” he said.

His position places Hamas’ disarmament at the centre of negotiations over the next phase of the Gaza plan.

Netanyahu also ruled out the establishment of a Palestinian state in either Gaza or the West Bank.

Hamas backs next phase of Trump plan

Netanyahu’s comments came a day after Hamas said it was prepared to move ahead with the US-backed proposal and urged pressure on Israel to implement it.

Hamas has informed Trump’s Board of Peace that it supports moving to the next stage of the plan, under which its fighters would hand over weapons to an emerging Palestinian governing committee in Gaza.

A Hamas official told AFP that the group and other factions had informed mediators of their readiness to begin implementing the agreement, provided Israel approves it and starts fulfilling its commitments.

Trump had announced breakthrough

Trump had announced last month that his plan to end the Gaza war had reached a breakthrough, saying both Israel and Hamas had agreed to the framework.

The ceasefire that followed began last year, although Israel has continued carrying out strikes in Gaza despite the truce agreed in October.

Hamas had controlled Gaza for nearly two decades before its October 7, 2023 attack on Israel triggered the war.

Trump has also said Hamas agreed to surrender its weapons as part of the proposed framework.

Pressure mounts on Netanyahu

Netanyahu’s latest stance comes as he faces political pressure at home, with his far-right allies calling for a fresh cabinet vote and an end to the Gaza plan.

The Israeli prime minister, the country’s longest-serving leader, is also facing a closely fought political battle, according to opinion polls.

His refusal to withdraw troops until Hamas is fully disarmed could further complicate efforts to move the US-backed Gaza framework into its next phase.

The developments also came days after the United Arab Emirates and seven other Muslim-majority countries issued a joint statement condemning Israel’s military campaign in Gaza.

The countries warned that Israel’s actions risked undermining Trump’s proposed framework aimed at bringing the conflict to an end.