Benjamin Netanyahu Rejects US Gaza Peace Plan
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has rejected a US-backed 15-point Gaza peace plan in its current form, insisting that Hamas must be fully disarmed before Israeli forces withdraw from the territory.
Netanyahu Rejects 15-Point Gaza Peace Plan
Netanyahu said Israel cannot accept the proposal as presently structured and maintained that Hamas must surrender its weapons before any complete Israeli military withdrawal.
The Israeli leader said discussions with Washington were continuing but stressed that Israel would not compromise on security conditions it considers essential.
Israel had previously raised reservations about parts of the proposal, particularly the sequence in which Hamas disarmament and Israeli withdrawal would take place.
US Plan Links Hamas Disarmament to Withdrawal
The US-backed framework proposes a phased process under which Hamas would disarm as Israeli forces progressively withdraw from Gaza.
The plan also envisages an eventual transfer of administrative responsibility to an independent Palestinian governing body as part of a wider political transition.
The central disagreement concerns timing. The US framework links disarmament and withdrawal through parallel stages, while Netanyahu is demanding that Hamas be completely disarmed before Israel completes its withdrawal.
Israel-US Differences Emerge Over Gaza
Netanyahu has also criticised international pressure on Israel to bring the conflict to an end without what he considers sufficient long-term security guarantees.
The disagreement highlights differences between Washington and the Israeli government over how a post-war settlement in Gaza should be implemented.
Negotiations are expected to continue as the US seeks to advance its peace initiative while Israel pushes for stronger guarantees over Hamas disarmament and future security arrangements.
