Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has refused President Donald Trump’s proposed 15-point peace plan for Gaza. He emphasized that Israeli forces would not leave Gaza until Hamas is fully disarmed. “We are talking about genuine disarmament, not fictitious disarmament,” Netanyahu stated during a meeting with his government ministers recently. This comment follows President Trump’s announcement of a deal with the Palestinian militant group to disarm completely.
President Trump declared on social media that the Board of Peace achieved a “HISTORIC agreement” for the “COMPLETE DISARMAMENT” of Hamas and other armed groups in Gaza, marking a significant move toward peace and security. The peace deal outlined by Trump included Hamas and other militant groups surrendering their arms to an international policing force. However, a senior Hamas official informed NPR that the group would consider disarming only if Israel first withdrew from certain parts of Gaza.
The disagreement comes after an initial ceasefire between Israel and Hamas in October 2025, as per Trump’s extended 20-point Gaza plan. This plan initially stopped major conflict, allowed for the release of remaining hostages in exchange for about 2,000 Palestinian prisoners, improved humanitarian aid, and proposed a partial Israeli withdrawal. Remaining complex issues, like Hamas’s disarmament and further Israeli pullbacks, were left for future talks.
Trump’s updated 15-point roadmap, released on July 31, aimed to address these unresolved matters. The plan suggested a phased withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza, tied to Hamas’s disarmament rather than requiring full disarmament of Hamas before any withdrawal. Yet, the Board of Peace supported Netanyahu’s stance on August 3, indicating that Israeli forces would not withdraw past the Yellow Line until Hamas’s arms were completely decommissioned.
Netanyahu’s strong stance comes as Israel’s October 27 election approaches, with indications that his coalition might lose its majority. The current deadlock persists while Israel continues to control around 70% of Gaza, as reported by Palestinian officials and aid bodies. Meanwhile, Hamas released a statement affirming their commitment “to the roadmap agreed upon” in the agreement. NPR’s Anas Baba provided input from Gaza.
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