Key facts
- Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has rejected Donald Trump's 15-point peace plan for Gaza.
- The plan, issued by Trump's Board of Peace, proposed Hamas ceding weapons and power in exchange for Israeli troop withdrawal.
- Netanyahu stated Israel will not withdraw troops until Hamas is disarmed.
- Netanyahu reiterated his opposition to the establishment of a Palestinian state.
- Hamas has encouraged mediators to pressure Netanyahu to accept the plan.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced on Sunday that Israel rejects a 15-point peace plan for Gaza proposed by U.S. President Donald Trump's Board of Peace. The plan, released on July 31, envisioned Hamas gradually ceding its weapons and power to a new Palestinian administration, while Israel would withdraw its troops to the 'yellow line' established in a previous ceasefire deal.
Netanyahu stated at a cabinet meeting that Israel rejects the document and that the Israel Defense Forces will not carry out any withdrawal until Hamas is disarmed. He also reiterated his long-standing position that, as long as he is Prime Minister, no Palestinian state will be established in Gaza or the West Bank.
Trump had previously stated that Hamas and other armed groups in Gaza had agreed to disarm, which he presented as a pathway to resolving the conflict that began with Hamas's Oct. 7, 2023, attack on Israel. Following Netanyahu's rejection, a senior Hamas official encouraged mediators to continue pressuring the Israeli government to adhere to the roadmap.
Despite a historically cordial relationship, Netanyahu and Trump have reportedly been at odds over key aspects of the peace process. Trump had previously called Netanyahu 'crazy' in June due to ongoing conflicts with Lebanon. The two leaders met at the White House on July 28, with the White House describing the meeting as 'positive and productive.'