Netanyahu rejects Trump’s 15-point Gaza plan

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has dismissed US President Donald Trump’s 15-point Gaza plan, insisting that no military withdrawal from Gaza can 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 has stated that turning over its heavy weapons would depend on Israel ceasing "all forms of aggression" and withdrawing its forces from the territory. Israel has continued to launch strikes on Gaza since reaching an initial ceasefire in October 2025. Netanyahu declared at a cabinet meeting on Sunday, August 9, 2026, that Israel rejects the 15-point document, vowing that 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."

Trump had claimed the plan represented a "monumental step toward lasting peace and security" following Hamas' acceptance of a disarmament proposal for Gaza. Netanyahu, however, argued that Hamas must disarm before any Israeli troop withdrawal could take place, emphasizing that the disarming couldn't be "fictitious." He is now consulting with US officials on potential next steps, noting that some ideas may be acceptable while others will not be.

With Israeli elections approaching, Netanyahu is unlikely to make concessions, facing pressure from his far-right allies who have called for a new cabinet vote to end the Gaza plan. This development marks another setback for Trump's Gaza peace initiative, which was proposed in September 2025 and included the establishment of a Board of Peace to oversee agreement implementation, Hamas disarmament, Israeli troop withdrawal, and Gaza reconstruction.