Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has rejected the latest United States-backed peace plan for Gaza, insisting that Israeli forces will not withdraw from the territory until Hamas is fully disarmed.
Netanyahu made the position known in his first direct comments on the 15-point proposal announced by US President Donald Trump.
“I want to be precise here: Israel rejects the 15-point document,” Netanyahu said.
He added that the Israeli military would “not withdraw at all” until Hamas was genuinely disarmed, stressing that Israel would continue to prevent threats against its forces and citizens.
Netanyahu said Israel was currently discussing the proposal with the United States, but noted that while some of Washington’s ideas were acceptable, others were not.
He also maintained his opposition to the establishment of a Palestinian state.
“As long as I am prime minister, no Palestinian state will be established not in Gaza and not in the West Bank,” he said.
The development comes as Netanyahu faces growing political pressure ahead of Israel’s election scheduled for the end of October.
His right-wing coalition is trailing in opinion polls, leaving the prime minister under pressure from both the United States and hardline members of his government.
Netanyahu also defended Israel’s military operations in Gaza and Lebanon, as well as its strikes in Iran earlier this year, saying his government would continue to take what it considers necessary steps to protect Israel’s security.
The rejection has also drawn a response from Hamas, which called on the United States and mediators to pressure Israel to comply with Trump’s proposed roadmap.
Trump announced the agreement at the end of July, describing it as a major breakthrough aimed at securing the disarmament of Hamas and other armed groups in Gaza.
However, Hamas has said it would only proceed if Israel halts its attacks in Gaza and withdraws its forces to the “yellow line” established under the October ceasefire agreement.
A senior Hamas official, Bassem Naim, said the group remained committed to the roadmap proposed by Trump’s Peace Council.
Naim urged the mediators and the United States, as guarantor of the agreement, to pressure Netanyahu’s government not to obstruct the process for political or electoral reasons.
Israeli forces currently control more than half of Gaza, particularly areas in the east and south, while senior members of Netanyahu’s government have called for further expansion of Israeli control.
Far-right Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich welcomed Netanyahu’s position, saying the Israeli military should not retreat “one millimeter” from Gaza.
Netanyahu’s rejection of the US-backed proposal is expected to further strain his relationship with Trump, despite the Israeli leader previously describing the US president as one of Israel’s strongest friends in the White House.
The two leaders have also experienced disagreements over Israeli military operations in Lebanon and the ceasefire with Iran.
CNN.
