Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu rejected a new U.S. peace plan for Gaza on Sunday, calling the proposal unacceptable [1, 2].
The rejection signals a significant diplomatic rift between the Israeli government and the U.S. administration during a critical phase of the conflict. It suggests that despite external pressure, Israel remains committed to its own security conditions before ending its military presence in the territory.
Netanyahu delivered the remarks during a televised address to his right-wing government in Jerusalem [1]. He said that Israel will not withdraw from Gaza until Hamas is fully disarmed [1, 3]. The proposal put forward by Donald Trump consists of 15 points [3].
While the Israeli government has formally rejected the plan, military activity on the ground has shifted. Reports indicate that Israel's military has effectively halted attacks in the territory under pressure from the U.S. president [1]. Other reports said that Israel has scaled back attacks since Monday, following a meeting between Netanyahu and Nikolay Mladenov [2].
This pause in offensive operations occurs as the U.S. attempts to broker a long-term resolution. However, Netanyahu's public refusal to accept the 15-point [3] framework indicates that the primary obstacle remains the timeline and conditions for an Israeli withdrawal.
The prime minister's stance aligns with his government's long-term strategy of ensuring that no governing body linked to Hamas remains in power. By rejecting the plan publicly, Netanyahu reinforces his position to his domestic coalition while challenging the U.S. to adjust its terms.
“Israel will not withdraw from Gaza until Hamas is disarmed”
The clash between Netanyahu's demands for total disarmament and the US 15-point proposal highlights a fundamental disagreement over the endgame in Gaza. While the current military pause suggests US leverage over tactical operations, the political deadlock over the peace plan indicates that a permanent diplomatic settlement remains unlikely without a significant shift in either Israeli security requirements or US diplomatic strategy.
