Netanyahu: Israel rejects U.S. Gaza peace plan, IDF won't withdraw until Hamas disarms

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu dismissed the 15-point Gaza peace plan proposed by U.S. President Donald Trump's Board of Peace on Sunday. He affirmed that the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) would not withdraw from Gaza until Hamas is disarmed. Netanyahu explicitly stated, "Israel does not accept the 15-point document." He emphasized that Israel demands the disarmament of all weapons held by Hamas, including both light and heavy arms.

Under the proposed roadmap, Palestinians would retain the right to own personal firearms, subject to Palestinian law and oversight by a U.S.-backed Palestinian committee responsible for licensing and registration. Netanyahu also rejected the creation of a Palestinian state, stating he would not establish one in Gaza or the West Bank during his tenure as prime minister.

He expressed that Israel had discussed the disarmament issue with U.S. officials, who offered varying degrees of agreement and disagreement, indicating their stance and willingness to stand firm against any perceived obstacles. Hamas has responded by urging all parties to adhere to the agreement and prevent any violations that could hinder its implementation.

The committee has not defined "disarmament" in the same manner as Israel, proposing that weapons be stored under the Palestinian technocratic committee, with oversight from the Board of Peace. A Hamas official reiterated their commitment to the roadmap but highlighted the conditional acceptance of implementation, emphasizing that Israel must first fulfill its obligations, including withdrawing from Gaza.

The Board of Peace initially planned to require simultaneous withdrawal from Gaza alongside Hamas disarmament; however, they later retracted this requirement following an assertion from an Israeli official that Israel would not fully withdraw and would maintain the ability to strike within Gaza. Netanyahu met with the Board of Peace's chief envoy, Nickolay Mladenov, to discuss the evolving situation.

Subsequently, the Board issued a revised statement suggesting that withdrawal would occur only after Hamas disarmament is complete. Israel has recently reduced its military operations in Gaza, agreeing to target only immediate threats rather than conducting frequent targeted assassinations. The Gaza Health Ministry reported a single casualty from an Israeli strike in the past day, while the overall death toll from Israeli attacks since the October ceasefire has surpassed 1,250, with the majority being civilians.

Hamas has not released the count of its fighters killed. The Israeli military has controlled and evacuated two-thirds of Gaza, confining its nearly 2 million residents to a limited area, primarily in tents or damaged structures.