The Israeli leader is also under pressure from members of his right-wing coalition who oppose concessions to Hamas and have demanded a tougher approach to the conflict
By Moses Okorie
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has rejected a 15-point Gaza peace proposal backed by US President Donald Trump, insisting that Israel will not withdraw its troops from the territory until Hamas has been completely disarmed.
Netanyahu announced the decision during a cabinet meeting on Sunday, casting fresh uncertainty over the implementation of Trump’s plan, which seeks to end the conflict, disarm armed groups in Gaza and pave the way for the territory’s reconstruction.
“Israel rejects the 15-point document,” Netanyahu said, warning that the Israeli military would not undertake any withdrawal until Hamas was “genuinely disarmed”.
He added that Israeli forces would continue to act against threats to Israeli troops and civilians.
The Israeli position differs sharply from that of Hamas, which has expressed readiness to engage with the US-backed proposal but has linked any surrender of its heavy weapons to an Israeli withdrawal from Gaza and an end to military operations.
A Hamas official told the BBC that the group remained committed to the agreement and was prepared to participate “seriously and responsibly” in efforts to implement it.
The official also called on mediators to ensure that all parties honoured their commitments under the proposed arrangement.
Trump’s Board of Peace said last month that an understanding had been reached for the “complete disarmament” of Hamas and other armed groups in Gaza.
However, Hamas has argued that disarmament cannot take place independently of Israel’s obligations, particularly the withdrawal of Israeli forces and cessation of what it describes as aggression against Gaza.
A senior official of the Board of Peace maintained on Sunday that the US-backed proposal remained the only realistic route to ending the conflict.
The latest dispute is another major challenge to Trump’s peace initiative, which was announced in September last year.
Among other provisions, the plan calls for Hamas and other armed groups to surrender their weapons, Israeli troops to withdraw from Gaza, the territory to undergo reconstruction and a Board of Peace to supervise the implementation of the agreement.
Netanyahu’s opposition to the proposal had been widely anticipated, particularly over the issue of Hamas’ weapons and the timing of an Israeli military withdrawal.
The Israeli leader is also under pressure from members of his right-wing coalition who oppose concessions to Hamas and have demanded a tougher approach to the conflict.
At the same time, Netanyahu is likely to be cautious about openly confronting Trump, Israel’s key international ally, as Washington pushes for progress on the proposed peace framework.
Trump recently described Hamas’ reported willingness to disarm as a major breakthrough towards lasting peace and security, after the group indicated that it could surrender its weapons provided Israel withdrew its forces from Gaza.
Netanyahu, however, made clear that Israel would not accept that sequence.
He insisted that Hamas must first surrender its weapons and that any disarmament must be genuine rather than symbolic.
According to the prime minister, a withdrawal of Israeli forces and the disarmament of Hamas could ultimately have to be implemented in stages.
He said Israeli and US officials were already discussing possible alternatives to resolve the disagreement.
“They have ideas; some of them are acceptable to us and some are not,” Netanyahu said, adding that Israel knew how to defend its position during the negotiations.
The dispute comes only months before Israel’s next elections and amid increasing pressure from the country’s far-right political bloc.
National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir has rejected the proposed arrangement, describing it as unacceptable and joining calls for another cabinet vote on the Gaza agreement.
With the two sides still divided over the crucial question of disarmament and troop withdrawal, the latest development could further delay efforts to implement Trump’s plan and establish a lasting ceasefire in Gaza.