By: Manoah Kikekon
.webp) |
| Benjamin Netanyahu and Donald Trump |
TEL AVIV, ISRAEL – Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has formally rejected United States President Donald Trump’s proposed 15-point roadmap for Gaza, declaring that Israeli forces will maintain their positions until Hamas is fully and genuinely disarmed.
Speaking during a cabinet meeting, Netanyahu hardened his stance amidst mounting pressure from his right-wing political base ahead of national elections. The rejection marks a significant friction point in Washington's ongoing diplomatic efforts to secure a lasting framework for the war-torn enclave.
The US-led Board of Peace framework, announced late last month, envisioned a phased ceasefire whereby Hamas and other armed factions would surrender their weapons to a new Palestinian governing body in tandem with a gradual Israeli military withdrawal.
However, Netanyahu firmly rejected the parallel withdrawal schedule, insisting that military disengagement is a non-starter until total demilitarisation is achieved.
“Israel rejects the 15-point document,” Netanyahu stated during the cabinet address. The Israeli military “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 that the demand covers all weaponry, emphasizing, “We are talking about real disarmament, not fictitious disarmament.”
While pushing back against the specific sequencing of the US-led proposal, Netanyahu acknowledged ongoing discussions with the White House, maintaining a diplomatic tone regarding President Trump.
“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,” Netanyahu remarked, while concurrently praising the broader US-Israel partnership on regional security issues such as Iran.
The 15-point plan, designated under UN Security Council Resolution 2803, aims to transition governance of Gaza to an independent Palestinian National Committee backed by international stabilisation forces. Yet, with Israel demanding complete capitulation before moving troops and Hamas conditioning its compliance on an end to ongoing military operations, prospects for immediate implementation remain uncertain.