Israel rejects Trump's Gaza peace plan over Hamas disarmament

Israel has rejected Donald Trump’s 15-point Board of Peace plan for Gaza, with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu saying Israeli forces will not withdraw until Hamas is fully disarmed. He vowed to continue military operations to ‘protect Israeli forces and civilians’ while rejecting any ceasefire that does not dismantle Hamas’s military capabilities.

The plan, unveiled in late April, proposed a phased withdrawal of Israeli troops, the release of hostages held by Hamas, and a temporary Palestinian government to oversee Gaza’s reconstruction. It also included international guarantees for security and a pathway to Palestinian statehood. But Netanyahu dismissed it outright, calling it unrealistic. His rejection reflects deep skepticism in Israel about trusting Hamas to honor any deal, especially after the group’s October 7 attacks killed 1,200 people and triggered the current war. Hardline factions within his government have also pushed back against any compromise, demanding total victory over Hamas.

Hamas has not yet formally responded to the plan, but its leaders have previously insisted on a permanent ceasefire and full Israeli withdrawal before any talks on hostages or governance. The group’s armed wing still holds over 100 Israeli hostages, and its fighters remain embedded in Gaza’s dense urban areas. Israel’s military says it has killed thousands of Hamas fighters and destroyed much of the group’s tunnel network, but intelligence assessments suggest Hamas retains significant operational capacity. The rejection by Israel means the plan is effectively dead, leaving Gaza in a prolonged state of devastation with no clear political horizon.

With no diplomatic off-ramp, the war is likely to grind on. Israel’s military campaign has already displaced nearly 2 million people in Gaza and left much of the territory in ruins. The U.S. and other Western allies have warned against a full-scale invasion of Rafah, where hundreds of thousands of civilians are sheltering, but Israel shows no sign of halting operations. Meanwhile, the humanitarian crisis is worsening—famine looms, diseases are spreading, and international aid groups say conditions are beyond catastrophic. For now, Netanyahu’s government appears determined to press its military strategy, betting that continued pressure will force Hamas to collapse. But with no political solution in sight, the cycle of violence risks dragging on indefinitely.