Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu officially rejected a 15-point U.S.-backed Gaza proposal on Sunday, asserting that Israeli forces will not retreat from the enclave until Hamas completely surrenders its arsenal. Speaking at a cabinet meeting, Netanyahu stated that “Israel rejects the 15-point document” and emphasized that the military “will not carry out any withdrawal until Hamas is genuinely disarmed and will continue to thwart threats against our forces and our citizens”.
The initiative, championed by President Trump, outlined a phased framework in which Israeli forces would pull back in conjunction with the gradual disarmament of militant factions in Gaza. However, Israeli leadership has firmly opposed any simultaneous timeline, insisting that the complete dismantlement of Hamas’s weapons must precede any military pullout or regional reconstruction. Clarifying the government’s stance, Netanyahu added, “When I say Hamas must be disarmed, I mean heavy weapons, lighter weapons, all weaponry. We are talking about genuine disarmament, not fictitious disarmament”.
In response, Hamas representatives maintained that any negotiations regarding its weapons remain contingent on an immediate cessation of Israeli strikes and a complete troop retreat. The militant group indicated it had agreed to transfer arms to a transitional Palestinian governing body under international oversight, but stressed that execution depends on Israel fulfilling earlier obligations. Calling on Washington to intervene, Hamas political bureau member Bassem Naim stated, “We expect the mediators and the American guarantor to pressure Netanyahu and his government to adhere to the roadmap and not obstruct the process for internal political and electoral reasons”.
The public disagreement underscores widening policy friction between Washington and Jerusalem ahead of Israel’s upcoming parliamentary elections. Facing political pressure from coalition partners who strongly reject concessions or a pathway toward Palestinian sovereignty, Netanyahu reaffirmed his opposition, stating that “as long as I am Prime Minister, there will be no Palestinian State”. While affirming ongoing diplomatic talks with American counterparts, the prime minister emphasized that Israel remains prepared to stand firm on its core security requirements regardless of external expectations.
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