Netanyahu rejects U.S. Gaza plan, insists Hamas disarm before any Israeli withdrawal
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday rejected a U.S.-backed plan for Gaza, insisting that the Israeli military will not withdraw from the territory until Hamas is genuinely disarmed. The plan, a 15-point document endorsed by Hamas in late July, proposed that the group surrender its weapons to a nascent Palestinian governing body, with Israel beginning to pull out forces in tandem with the disarmament process.
Speaking at a cabinet meeting, Mr. Netanyahu said Israel rejects the document outright. "The Israeli military will not carry out any withdrawal until Hamas is genuinely disarmed and will continue to thwart threats against our forces and our citizens," he said.
The plan was the latest stage in a U.S.-led ceasefire announced in October, which has reduced but not ended Israeli operations in Gaza. Under the original terms, Israel would have begun withdrawing forces as Hamas gave up its arms, an arrangement Israel has adamantly opposed. The plan was hailed by U.S. President Donald Trump, but faced growing criticism from Israeli leaders over the past week.
After meeting Mr. Netanyahu last week, the Board of Peace, the body implementing the deal, appeared to backtrack, saying Israel would need to withdraw only after "complete" disarmament. However, Mr. Netanyahu's rejection goes further, insisting that Hamas must destroy all its weapons, a goal that Board of Peace members have called unrealistic.
"We are talking about real disarmament, not fictitious disarmament," Mr. Netanyahu said, dismissing suggestions that a symbolic surrender of weapons would suffice.
Mr. Netanyahu, Israel's longest-serving leader, faces a tight election race and mounting pressure from far-right allies who have called for a new cabinet vote to end the Gaza plan. His stance appears aimed at placating this base while maintaining dialogue with Washington. "They have ideas; some of them are acceptable to us and some are not, and we know how to stand our ground on these matters," he said, indicating that discussions with the United States are ongoing.
The rejection highlights the fragile nature of the ceasefire and raises questions about the viability of the U.S.-led plan. Both Israel and Hamas have conflicting interpretations of the disarmament process, leaving the future of Gaza uncertain. The plan was seen as a potential step toward ending the conflict, but the stark divisions between the parties underscore the difficulty of achieving a lasting peace.
The United States has not yet responded publicly to Mr. Netanyahu's latest remarks. However, analysts note that the Board of Peace's earlier backtracking already signaled a shift in Washington's position, aligning more closely with Israeli demands. The coming weeks may determine whether the ceasefire can hold, as political deadlines and military realities collide.
