Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has rejected US President Donald Trump’s 15-point Gaza peace plan, marking a rare public break with the American president over Middle East policy. At a cabinet meeting on Sunday, Netanyahu stated that Israel “does not accept the 15-point document” and insisted that Israeli forces “will not carry out any withdrawal until Hamas is genuinely disarmed.”
Trump’s Board of Peace announced the plan on July 31, calling it a “historic agreement for the complete disarmament of Hamas and all other armed groups in Gaza.” The roadmap mandates that Hamas would disarm in exchange for a phased Israeli military withdrawal and the transition of governance to a technocratic Palestinian committee backed by an international security force.
Netanyahu’s rejection came just over a week after Trump hailed the deal as a “monumental step toward lasting peace and security.” Hamas had agreed to the framework, though the group stipulated that it would hand over its heavy weapons only if Israel ended “all forms of aggression” and withdrew its forces from Gaza. According to the BBC, Netanyahu’s position reflects the difficult balance he faces between his closest ally and domestic political pressure from his right-wing coalition partners.
Netanyahu has faced calls from far-right members of his coalition, including National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir, to reject the plan entirely. Ben Gvir dismissed the draft as “not acceptable,” according to the BBC. The timing of Netanyahu’s rejection—just months before Israeli elections—underscores the political stakes. Netanyahu faces multiple corruption charges dating back to 2019 and could potentially face prison time if found guilty, making his political survival a priority.
Despite the rejection, Trump insisted on Monday that his relationship with Netanyahu remains intact. “The relationship is very good,” Trump said in response to a journalist’s question at the White House. A senior Board of Peace official responded by stating that discussions with Israel are continuing and that the framework remains operative, emphasizing that “each stage only moves forward once the required commitments have been met.”
The rejection threatens the fragile ceasefire Israel and Hamas reached in October 2025. According to Al Jazeera, Israel has continued near-daily deadly attacks in the territory despite the ceasefire agreement and now maintains military control of more than 70 percent of Gaza. The Gaza Government Media Office condemned Netanyahu’s statement as “a clear and explicit coup against the negotiation path,” accusing Israel of using negotiations as “a false political cover to buy time” while continuing military operations.
Analysts quoted by Al Jazeera argue that Netanyahu’s demand for complete disarmament before any Israeli withdrawal is designed to be an impossible condition. Mahjoob Zweiri, an expert in Middle East politics, noted that “the issue of ending weapons in an environment like the environment of Gaza is almost an impossible matter,” citing the lack of a weapons database and absence of a trusted neutral party to oversee the process. Zweiri also predicted “an expected diplomatic storm” and potential friction between Netanyahu and Trump over the issue.
Hamas reaffirmed its commitment to the agreement, calling on mediators and the Board of Peace to “assume their responsibilities” and ensure all parties comply with what has been agreed. Egypt’s Foreign Minister warned that any attempt to displace Gaza’s population would constitute a “red line” for Egypt and Arab nations, signaling regional concern about the plan’s collapse and its implications for Palestinian civilians.
Sources
- BBC News — Netanyahu’s rejection of the 15-point plan, his stated conditions for Israeli withdrawal, and pressure from far-right coalition members including Ben Gvir
- Al Jazeera — Trump’s statement on his relationship with Netanyahu, analyst commentary on Netanyahu’s political motivations, and regional reactions from Egypt
- Reuters — Netanyahu’s cabinet statement and details of the Board of Peace plan
- The New York Times — Netanyahu’s Sunday rejection and the plan’s framework for Hamas disarmament and Israeli withdrawal
- The Washington Post — Netanyahu’s explicit rejection and the plan’s disarmament requirements
