Donald Trump and Benjamin Netanyahu’s Gaza partnership just hit its biggest test yet. The Israeli Prime Minister’s public rejection of the US-backed peace plan reveals a deepening rift over Hamas disarmament conditions.
Netanyahu rejects the U.S.-backed Gaza plan amid disagreement over Hamas disarmament
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu publicly rejected the US-backed 15-point Gaza peace plan on Sunday. He made his stance clear during opening remarks at the weekly Israeli Cabinet meeting. CNN reports he emphasized his position by stating it twice during the session.
“I wish to be precise: Israel does not accept the 15-point document,” Netanyahu said. He then reinforced the message by adding, “I have heard people saying: ‘You didn’t say it.’ So here I am saying it again: Israel does not accept the 15-point document.”
Netanyahu also set firm conditions regarding any potential Israeli military withdrawal from Gaza. “The IDF will not carry out any withdrawal until Hamas is disarmed,” he stated. He further clarified that disarmament must cover all categories of weapons. “And when I say the disarming of Hamas, it means heavy weaponry, lighter weaponry, all weaponry. And we are talking about genuine disarmament, not fictitious disarmament,” he added.
US Board of Peace envoy Nickolay Mladenov previously suggested a phased approach to the process. He had explained that decommissioning would need to take place “in lockstep” with Israeli troop withdrawal. However, Mladenov later appeared to shift his position during an Israeli Channel 12 interview. “Nobody is required to do anything, least of all Israel, before we actually have verified steps on the ground,” he said.
Hamas responded with relative restraint to Netanyahu’s remarks. The group said it remained committed to the roadmap. It also called on the Board of Peace to “exert pressure” on Netanyahu to follow the plan.
Meanwhile, Israel’s general election looms less than 12 weeks away. Polls suggest Netanyahu faces a difficult contest ahead. His far-right coalition allies had already publicly criticized the roadmap before his rejection.
Originally reported by Vritti Johar on Mandatory.com.
