Netanyahu Rejects Trump's 15-Point Gaza Peace Plan Over Hamas Disarmament

In a rare and public rupture with the White House, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu formally rejected President Donald Trump's much-touted 15-point peace plan for Gaza on Sunday. The proposed roadmap, negotiated by Trump's newly formed Board of Peace, envisioned a phased withdrawal of Israeli forces paired with the gradual disarmament of Hamas. However, citing security concerns and domestic pressure, Netanyahu insisted that a complete and genuine demilitarization must precede any territorial concessions.

Disagreement Over Phased Implementation

Speaking at the start of his weekly cabinet meeting, Netanyahu was unequivocal in his dismissal of the American framework. “I want to clarify here: Israel rejects the 15-point document,” the prime minister declared. He emphasized that the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) would not pull back from their current positions until Hamas and other militant groups are thoroughly stripped of their military capabilities, adding that Israel must prevent any fictitious disarmament.

The 15-point plan, championed by the Trump administration as a historic breakthrough, proposed that an International Stabilization Force would enter Gaza to oversee security. Under this arrangement, Hamas would cede its weapons while power transitioned to an independent Palestinian national committee. Trump had recently celebrated the militant group's preliminary agreement to the framework as a monumental step toward long-term regional stability.

Regional Tensions and Political Calculus

The rejection deals a significant blow to the broader geopolitical strategy of the White House. Trump has sought to wrap up the multifaceted Middle Eastern conflicts—including ongoing hostilities with Iran and disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz—to boost his domestic approval ratings. For Netanyahu, however, domestic politics push in the opposite direction. Far-right members of his coalition have fiercely opposed the Board of Peace’s roadmap, viewing any premature withdrawal as a perilous strategic blunder.

In response to the Israeli leader's steadfast refusal, Hamas reaffirmed its commitment to the Board of Peace's proposal. The militant group publicly urged international mediators and the American government to pressure Netanyahu's cabinet into accepting the phased approach. Yet, behind closed doors, U.S. officials seem resigned to the political realities in Jerusalem, with one senior official reportedly telling Axios that Washington “understands Bibi's political needs” and remains relatively unbothered by the posturing.

The Diplomatic Takeaway

This diplomatic impasse underscores the persistent limits of external influence over Israel's core security doctrine. While the Trump administration seeks a sweeping geopolitical triumph in the Middle East, the reality on the ground dictates that any lasting peace will require more than a theoretical roadmap. It demands absolute, verifiable assurances that neither side seems currently willing—or politically able—to concede.