Netanyahu rejects Trump Gaza plan, insists on Hamas disarmament

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday rejected a 15-point plan for Gaza proposed by US President Donald Trump and insisted that Israeli forces would not leave the Palestinian territory until Hamas is “genuinely” disarmed. Netanyahu spoke hours after Trump published the plan, which calls for Palestinian self-rule, international peacekeeping and phased Israeli withdrawals. The prime minister called the proposal “unrealistic” and said any withdrawal would only happen after Hamas is stripped of its weapons and governance.

The tension reflects a widening gap between Washington and Jerusalem over how to end the war that began after Hamas’s October 7 attack. Trump’s plan envisions a limited Israeli presence in Gaza for years while Palestinian security forces are rebuilt, but Netanyahu argues that only full Hamas disarmament can justify any pullback. His stance aligns with hardline members of his coalition who insist Israel must control Gaza’s borders and prevent any return of militant rule. The US has pushed for a political horizon that could stabilize the territory, but Israel’s insistence on security guarantees ahead of any withdrawal complicates that goal.

Hamas has yet to respond publicly, but the group still holds dozens of Israeli hostages and controls parts of Gaza’s population. International aid agencies warn that continued fighting and restricted access are deepening a humanitarian crisis, with nearly half of Gaza’s buildings damaged or destroyed. UN officials say more than 36,000 Palestinians have been killed since the war began, according to Gaza health authorities. Netanyahu’s rejection of the US plan adds pressure on Trump, who faces a November re-election bid and needs to show progress in the Middle East.

Analysts say the dispute could delay ceasefire talks and prolong the suffering in Gaza. If Israel refuses to withdraw without total Hamas disarmament, the US may struggle to broker a deal that satisfies both sides. Meanwhile, Iran warned on Sunday that it would not reopen the Strait of Hormuz to international shipping until the US meets unspecified conditions tied to Washington’s regional policies. The standoff highlights how regional conflicts risk spiraling wider even as the world focuses on the Gaza war.