Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu rejected a 15-point U.S.-backed proposal for the gradual disarmament of Gaza and withdrawal of Israeli forces, saying Israel will not pull back until Hamas has been fully disarmed.
By yourNEWS Media Newsroom
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Sunday that Israel will not accept a U.S.-backed 15-point plan governing the disarmament of Gaza and the withdrawal of Israeli troops, putting his government at odds with elements of a proposal developed last month by President Donald Trump’s Board of Peace.
Netanyahu announced the decision during a Cabinet meeting, according to a readout from his office.
“I want to be clear here — Israel is ruling out the 15-point plan,” Netanyahu said.
The proposal calls for Gaza to be gradually disarmed while Israeli forces withdraw from the territory. Netanyahu said he has already communicated Israel’s objections to the Trump administration and made clear that Israeli military withdrawals would depend on Hamas first surrendering its weapons.
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.
Despite rejecting the existing proposal, Netanyahu indicated that discussions with Washington are continuing.
“We are now discussing this with the Americans,” he said. “They have ideas, some of which are acceptable to us and some are not, and we know how to stand up to those things.”
Netanyahu also used the meeting to restate his opposition to the creation of a Palestinian state, extending that position to both Gaza and the West Bank.
“As long as I am prime minister, no Palestinian state will be established — not in Gaza and not in the West Bank,” Netanyahu said.
The dispute over the proposed Gaza framework comes as Netanyahu and his governing coalition prepare for a difficult re-election vote scheduled for late October.
Netanyahu said Israel would continue to make security decisions based on what his government considers necessary, even when those decisions conflict with the positions of close allies.
“Contrary to all those who preach to us, we do what must be done for Israel’s security and we can and will stand our ground even against our best friends when necessary,” Netanyahu added.
Hamas has also attached conditions to the disarmament process. The group has said it would surrender its heavy weapons only if Israel ends “all forms of aggression” and withdraws from Gaza.
Bassem Naim, a member of Hamas’ politburo, called Sunday for outside mediators and the United States to press Netanyahu’s government to follow the proposed roadmap.
“We expect the mediators and the American guarantor to pressure Netanyahu and his government to adhere to the roadmap and not obstruct the process for internal political and electoral reasons,” Naim said on X Sunday.
Israel has continued conducting strikes in Gaza since the cease-fire reached last October.
Israeli forces currently occupy more than half of the territory, while Netanyahu’s far-right coalition allies have suggested they favor expanding Israeli control.
Those allies welcomed Netanyahu’s rejection of further withdrawal under the proposed plan.
“The [Israeli military] cannot retreat one millimeter in the Gaza Strip,” Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich said.
Original article
Comments