Netanyahu rejects 15-point Gaza peace plan until Hamas disarms

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced on Sunday that his government will reject the 15-point Gaza peace proposal put forward by the Board of Peace established by U.S. President Donald Trump, reiterating that Israeli forces will not withdraw until Hamas is “truly disarmed.” The statement, delivered at the start of a cabinet meeting, places the fragile U.S.-brokered ceasefire under renewed strain and signals a hardening of Israel’s position just as international mediators push for a lasting end to the war.

What the Board of Peace Proposal Includes

The proposal was unveiled by the Board of Peace, a body formed by Trump to help shape post-war arrangements in Gaza. According to the plan, Hamas would lay down its weapons and the Israel Defense Forces would pull back from the strip, building on the ceasefire agreement signed last year under Washington’s mediation. The 15-point document is meant to bridge long-standing disagreements between Israel and Palestinian armed factions, with the U.S. acting as guarantor.

But Netanyahu’s rejection undermines the core assumption of the proposal: that phased Israeli withdrawal could happen in parallel with disarmament. Instead, the prime minister framed disarmament as a precondition for any movement of troops, not a goal to be achieved during a staged process.

Netanyahu’s Cabinet Statement

“Israel rejects the 15-point document,” Netanyahu said, according to official remarks at Sunday’s cabinet meeting. “The IDF will not make any withdrawal until Hamas is truly disarmed and will continue to thwart threats against our forces and citizens.”

The language is notable for two reasons. First, it moves beyond a simple “no” and imposes a condition: “truly disarmed.” That suggests Israel will not be satisfied with symbolic gestures or partial demilitarization, and may demand verification mechanisms before any troop repositioning. Second, the pledge to “continue to thwart threats” indicates that the IDF will retain operational freedom inside Gaza even in a ceasefire environment, a point that could clash with Palestinian demands for full sovereignty.

Implications for the Ceasefire and Peace Process

The ceasefire, signed last year under U.S. pressure, has already been tested by mutual accusations of violations. Netanyahu’s rejection of the Board of Peace document effectively removes the most concrete blueprint for a permanent truce that Washington had put forward.

If Israel insists on full disarmament before withdrawal, the ceasefire could remain in limbo for months. Hamas, which governs Gaza and has not agreed to complete disarmament in the past, is unlikely to surrender its arsenal without major security guarantees or political concessions. That creates a chicken-and-egg problem: Israel wants security before withdrawal; Hamas wants withdrawal before disarmament.

The Board of Peace proposal was intended to break that loop by sequencing steps, but without Israeli support it may never be implemented. International mediators will now have to go back to the drawing board, or try to pressure both sides to return to the terms of the original ceasefire agreement.

What Happens Next

With the 15-point proposal rejected, attention shifts to how the U.S. will respond. Trump has invested political capital in brokering the ceasefire and presenting the Board of Peace as a vehicle for post-war settlement. A public rejection from Netanyahu puts the administration in a delicate spot: either pressure Israel to soften its stance or accept that the plan is dead on arrival.

For Netanyahu, the announcement also carries domestic weight. His governing coalition includes right-wing parties that have long opposed any withdrawal from Gaza. Framing the decision as a security imperative allows him to maintain that posture while avoiding an open break with Washington.

The coming weeks will likely bring intensified diplomatic contacts, possibly including a visit by American envoys or renewed shuttle diplomacy. But unless a new formula can satisfy Israel’s demand for verifiable disarmament and Hamas’s insistence on a clear Israeli withdrawal timeline, the ceasefire may remain on paper only. The situation remains fluid, and further developments are expected.