In a decisive cabinet meeting, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared that Israel would not accept the United States‑backed 15‑point plan for Gaza until Hamas is genuinely disarmed.
The plan, drafted by the Trump administration’s Board of Peace, calls for the complete disarmament of Hamas and other armed groups in Gaza, an Israeli withdrawal, and a reconstruction programme for the territory.
Hamas, however, linked the handover of heavy weapons to a halt in all forms of Israeli aggression and the exit of forces from Gaza, casting doubt on the conditions of the proposed plan.
Senior officials from the Board of Peace insisted that the plan is “the only way forward” for security in the region, while Palestinian representatives have signalled readiness to work “seriously and responsibly” if the terms are respected.
Netanyahu reaffirmed that the military will continue to thwart threats to its forces and citizens, adding that any withdrawal would follow verifiable disarmament. He also reaffirmed that he is in discussions with U.S. officials on the viability of the plan.
The rejection came just weeks before impending national elections and amid growing pressure from his right‑wing coalition to adopt a hard line on Gaza. Interior minister Itamar Ben Gvir, among others, opposed the draft, labeling it “unacceptable.”
The conflict’s toll remains steep, with around 73,000 casualties reported for Gaza since the war’s onset, while Israel has suffered over 1,200 fatalities in the 2023 offensive.
