Netanyahu Rejects Gaza Plan, Insists on Full Disarmament of Hamas

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced on Sunday that Israel will not accept a 15-point proposal for Gaza from the Board of Peace. He declared that Israeli forces will remain in the enclave until Hamas is fully disarmed.

Netanyahu stated, “Israel rejects the 15-point Gaza document proposed by the Board of Peace.” He emphasized that the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) will not withdraw without genuine disarmament of Hamas.

Discussions between Israel and the United States continue regarding Hamas’s disarmament. However, Netanyahu insisted that the group must surrender its entire arsenal for any agreement to proceed. He remarked on the necessity of true disarmament, not merely a facade.

“When I say Hamas is disarmed, that means all weapons, heavy and less heavy,” Netanyahu explained.

Meanwhile, senior Hamas official Basem Naim mentioned that Hamas remains committed to a roadmap agreed upon with mediators and the Board of Peace in Cairo. Naim expressed expectations that mediators and the U.S. would press Netanyahu to follow this roadmap.

While Trump previously described disarming Hamas as a significant milestone for peace, skepticism exists. Netanyahu’s recent comments highlight differences with the Board of Peace proposal, challenging the broader U.S. plan for Gaza.

Despite reported differences, Netanyahu and Trump share a common stance on ending Iran’s negative influence in the Middle East. Netanyahu has made it clear that a Palestinian state will not be established under his government, neither in Gaza nor in Judea and Samaria.

The prime minister’s rejection of the 15-point proposal highlights the barriers to transforming the ceasefire into a lasting resolution. Central issues include Hamas’s disarmament and Israeli military withdrawal.

On regional matters, Netanyahu announced recent Israeli military actions in Lebanon, describing them as “very important activity.” He praised President Trump, citing the U.S.-Israel alliance as crucial in preventing Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons.

Netanyahu declared, “With or without an agreement, as long as I am prime minister, Iran will not have a nuclear weapon. The existence of Israel, our precious country, is not negotiable.”