Israel has rejected a 15-point plan proposed by US President Donald Trump for Gaza, with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stating that no military withdrawal will occur until Hamas is "genuinely" disarmed.
Trump's Board of Peace announced last month that an agreement had been reached for the "complete disarmament" of Hamas and other armed groups in Gaza. However, Hamas indicated that handing over its heavy weapons was conditional on Israel ending "all forms of aggression" and withdrawing its forces from Gaza.
Israel has continued to conduct strikes on Gaza since agreeing to an initial ceasefire in the territory last October.
"Israel rejects the 15-point document," Netanyahu stated at a cabinet meeting on Sunday. He added, "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."
Last month, Trump announced "a monumental step toward lasting peace and security" after Hamas said it had accepted a disarmament plan for Gaza. But Netanyahu insisted that Hamas must disarm before Israel withdraws its forces, emphasizing that it could not be a "fictitious disarmament."
He mentioned that discussions are ongoing with US officials regarding the path forward. With Israeli elections just months away, the prime minister is unlikely to make concessions.
This development represents another setback for Trump's Gaza peace plan, which was unveiled in September of last year.
