Netanyahu Rejects Gaza Ceasefire Plan, Says Israel Will Not Withdraw Until Hamas Is Disarmed

Netanyahu Rejects Gaza Ceasefire Plan, Says Israel Will Not Withdraw Until Hamas Is Disarmed

Netanyahu Rejects Gaza Plan, Says Israel Won’t Withdraw Until Hamas Gives Up Its Weapons

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has rejected a 15-point Gaza ceasefire plan backed by US President Donald Trump, insisting Israel will not withdraw its forces until Hamas is fully and genuinely disarmed.

Netanyahu Rejects Gaza Plan, Demands Complete Hamas Disarmament

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has rejected a 15-point Gaza plan backed by US President Donald Trump, insisting that Israel will not withdraw its forces from the Palestinian territory until Hamas is completely and genuinely disarmed.

Netanyahu made the position clear on Sunday as pressure mounted from his right-wing political allies over the future of the Gaza ceasefire framework.

The Israeli prime minister said Israel had formally rejected the document, arguing that any agreement that allows Hamas to retain its weapons would fail to guarantee the security of Israeli soldiers and civilians.

“Israel rejects the 15-point document,” Netanyahu said during a cabinet meeting.

He added that the Israeli military would not carry out a withdrawal until Hamas had been “genuinely disarmed.”

The comments represent a significant obstacle to the implementation of the US-backed framework, which envisages Hamas surrendering its weapons to a new Palestinian governing structure while Israeli forces gradually pull back from Gaza.

Israel Opposes Withdrawal Before Disarmament

The central disagreement between Israel and the plan's supporters concerns the order in which the proposed steps should take place.

Under the framework, Hamas would surrender its weapons to an emerging Palestinian governing body, while Israel would begin withdrawing its forces as the disarmament process progresses.

Netanyahu, however, has rejected that sequence.

His government wants Hamas to completely give up its weapons before Israel carries out a military withdrawal.

“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,” Netanyahu said.

The dispute could become one of the biggest challenges facing efforts to move the Gaza ceasefire process toward a more permanent arrangement.

Israel has repeatedly argued that Hamas must no longer have the military capability to threaten Israeli communities, while supporters of the ceasefire framework have focused on creating a political process that could gradually end the conflict.

Netanyahu Calls for “Real Disarmament”

Netanyahu stressed that Israel was not prepared to accept what he described as symbolic or incomplete disarmament.

“We are talking about real disarmament, not fictitious disarmament,” he said.

The statement underscores the wide gap between Israel's expectations and the position of those involved in the US-backed process.

Members of the Board of Peace, the body involved in implementing the agreement, have reportedly acknowledged that completely removing Hamas's weapons could be extremely difficult.

That disagreement is particularly important because disarmament is one of the key conditions connected to the proposed transition in Gaza.

The plan envisions Hamas giving up its weapons while a new Palestinian governing arrangement takes shape. Israel's withdrawal would then occur in connection with the disarmament process.

Netanyahu's position effectively places the burden on Hamas to demonstrate that it has surrendered its military capabilities before Israel accepts a significant withdrawal.

Trump-Backed Gaza Framework Faces New Challenge

The disagreement also creates a challenge for US President Donald Trump, whose administration has promoted the Gaza framework as a path toward reducing the conflict and establishing a new political arrangement for the territory.

The plan represents the latest stage of a US-led ceasefire announced in October. Although the ceasefire has reduced the intensity of Israeli operations in Gaza, military activity has not completely ended.

The latest dispute demonstrates how difficult it may be to transform a ceasefire into a durable political settlement.

While Washington has sought to push the parties toward implementation, Israel and Hamas remain divided over some of the most fundamental issues, particularly the future of Hamas's armed wing and the presence of Israeli troops in Gaza.

The Israeli government has made clear that security guarantees remain its priority.

For Hamas and other supporters of the Palestinian side, however, an Israeli military withdrawal is regarded as a crucial component of any lasting ceasefire arrangement.

Netanyahu Faces Pressure From Right-Wing Allies

Netanyahu's rejection of the plan also comes at a politically sensitive moment.

Israel's longest-serving prime minister is facing pressure from members of his right-wing political base, some of whom have demanded stronger opposition to any Gaza arrangement that could allow Hamas to retain its weapons or political influence.

Netanyahu's political future is also closely connected to the government's handling of the Gaza conflict.

According to polls cited in the report, Netanyahu is in a tight contest to remain in power ahead of elections.

His right-wing allies have reportedly called for another cabinet vote on the Gaza plan and have pushed the government to take a tougher position.

The political pressure leaves Netanyahu balancing two competing considerations: maintaining support from his coalition while also preserving the strategic relationship with Washington.

The prime minister indicated that discussions with the United States were continuing.

Israel and US Continue Discussions

Despite his rejection of the 15-point document, Netanyahu said Israel remained in talks with the United States about its objections.

“They have ideas; some of them are acceptable to us, and some are not, and we know how to stand our ground on these matters,” he said.

The comments suggest that Israel is not necessarily rejecting every aspect of the broader US-led process.

Instead, Netanyahu appears to be seeking changes to the terms governing Hamas's disarmament and the withdrawal of Israeli forces.

That distinction could become important in future negotiations.

The United States has invested significant diplomatic effort in the Gaza process, and any major disagreement between Washington and Jerusalem could complicate attempts to implement the agreement.

At the same time, Netanyahu's government faces pressure from its domestic political partners not to accept terms that could be interpreted as allowing Hamas to remain an armed organisation.

Why Hamas Disarmament Is the Key Issue

The question of Hamas's weapons has remained one of the most difficult issues in negotiations over Gaza's future.

Israel has repeatedly demanded that Hamas no longer possess the military capability to launch attacks.

For Israel, disarmament is directly connected to national security and the prevention of future attacks.

The proposed Gaza framework, meanwhile, seeks to link Hamas's disarmament with the creation of a new governing arrangement for the territory.

That creates a complicated sequence of political and security decisions.

If Hamas refuses to surrender its weapons, Israel could argue that the conditions for a military withdrawal have not been met.

If Israel refuses to withdraw before Hamas is fully disarmed, Hamas and its supporters could argue that there is little incentive to surrender weapons without guarantees of an Israeli withdrawal.

Breaking that deadlock will likely be essential if the ceasefire framework is to move forward.

Board of Peace Changes Position on Israeli Withdrawal

The issue has already produced changes in the language surrounding the implementation of the agreement.

After Netanyahu met with Trump last week, the body responsible for implementing the agreement, known as the Board of Peace, reportedly shifted its position.

It said Israel would only need to withdraw after the “complete” disarmament of Hamas.

That position is closer to Netanyahu's stated demand than the earlier interpretation of the framework, which linked Israeli withdrawal with the progress of Hamas's disarmament.

However, Netanyahu's latest comments indicate that Israel wants the requirement for disarmament to be genuine and comprehensive.

The Israeli leader's use of the phrase “real disarmament” suggests that simply handing over some weapons or declaring an end to military activity would not satisfy his government.

What Happens Next?

The future of the Gaza plan now depends heavily on whether negotiators can bridge the disagreement over disarmament and Israeli troop withdrawals.

The United States is likely to face pressure to reconcile Israel's security demands with the broader objective of implementing the ceasefire framework.

Israel, meanwhile, will have to balance pressure from Washington with demands from its domestic political allies.

For Hamas, the biggest question is whether it would accept a process that requires the surrender of its weapons before an Israeli military withdrawal is completed.

The disagreement is therefore not simply about wording.

It concerns the fundamental question of who takes the first major step toward ending the conflict.

Israel wants Hamas's military capabilities removed before a significant withdrawal.

The proposed framework has attempted to create a process in which disarmament and withdrawal occur together.

Until the parties agree on a workable mechanism, implementation is likely to remain difficult.

Gaza Ceasefire Faces a Critical Test

Netanyahu's latest declaration puts the Gaza ceasefire framework at a critical juncture.

The Israeli prime minister has made clear that his government will not accept an arrangement that leaves Hamas armed and capable of threatening Israel.

At the same time, the US-backed plan is attempting to establish a political pathway for Gaza that involves disarmament, a new governing structure and an Israeli military withdrawal.

Whether those objectives can be reconciled will determine the next phase of the Gaza conflict.

For civilians in Gaza and Israel, the stakes remain extremely high. A sustainable agreement could reduce violence and create conditions for longer-term political negotiations, while a breakdown in the process could deepen uncertainty and prolong the conflict.

For now, Netanyahu's message is unequivocal: Israel will not agree to a military withdrawal until it believes Hamas has been completely and genuinely disarmed.

FAQ....

What Gaza plan did Netanyahu reject?

Netanyahu rejected a 15-point Gaza document that forms part of a US-backed ceasefire framework involving Hamas disarmament, a new Palestinian governing arrangement and an Israeli military withdrawal.

Why is Netanyahu opposing the plan?

The main disagreement concerns the timing and extent of Hamas's disarmament. Netanyahu says Israel should not withdraw its forces until Hamas is genuinely and completely disarmed.

What does Israel want from Hamas?

Netanyahu says Hamas must surrender all of its weapons and no longer retain the military capability to threaten Israeli forces or civilians.

What is the Board of Peace?

The Board of Peace is the body described as responsible for implementing the US-backed Gaza agreement.

Will Israel withdraw from Gaza?

Netanyahu has said Israel will not carry out a withdrawal until Hamas is genuinely disarmed, making the timing of any withdrawal dependent on the disarmament process.

What happens next?

Israel and the United States are expected to continue discussions over the disputed provisions. The ability of negotiators to resolve the disagreement over disarmament and Israeli withdrawal will be crucial to the future of the ceasefire framework.

 Benjamin Netanyahu, Gaza ceasefire, Hamas disarmament, Israel Gaza war, Donald Trump, Gaza peace plan, Israel military withdrawal, Middle East conflict