Netanyahu publicly rejects US-backed 15-point Gaza peace plan

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced on Sunday that Israel rejects a US-backed peace plan for Gaza, saying the Israeli military will not withdraw until Hamas is fully disarmed of both heavy and light weaponry. He stressed that genuine, not symbolic, disarmament was required, and that talks with the Americans on the matter were ongoing.

The plan and its background

Trump's Board of Peace proposed the 15-point plan in July, under which Hamas would disarm in return for a complete Israeli military withdrawal from Gaza and an eventual transfer of power to an independent Palestinian National Committee. Trump had envisioned the plan being carried out in stages, but Netanyahu insists disarmament must come first, before any other steps proceed.

Despite a ceasefire reached last October, Israeli strikes on Gaza have continued, with 18 people killed in attacks the previous Sunday. Israel had already hinted it would not endorse the plan, but Sunday's statement was notably sharper and aimed directly at the Trump administration.

Political backdrop

Facing difficult elections in October and pressure from hardliners within his own government, Netanyahu appears willing to publicly test his relationship with Trump to bolster his image at home as a defender of Israel's security. Nickolay Mladenov, the Board of Peace's representative for Gaza, responded that the plan remains the only viable path forward.

The rejection is a setback for Trump's ambition to be seen as a peacemaker in the region ahead of the US midterm elections in October, as his administration also seeks to secure peace with Iran to ease pressure on oil prices. Parallel efforts continue toward peace in Lebanon, where Israel holds territory near the border. Trump now faces a choice between increasing pressure on Netanyahu or letting the peace process stall.