Netanyahu rejects US Gaza plan, vows Hamas elimination

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu rejected a U.S.-backed plan for Gaza on Monday, calling it “unworkable” and insisting Israel will not accept terms that allow Palestinian armed groups to remain in control.

The plan, outlined by U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken during his recent Middle East tour, proposed a limited ceasefire, phased Israeli withdrawal, and a transitional Palestinian-led governance structure supported by Arab states. Netanyahu dismissed it in a statement, saying Israel would continue military operations until Hamas is “eliminated.” Palestinian politician Mustafa Barghouti told Al Jazeera the rejection was “no surprise,” citing Israel’s history of violating past agreements, including the 2023 truce that collapsed and led to the current war.

The rejection comes after months of stalled negotiations, rising civilian casualties in Gaza, and growing international pressure for a political solution. Israel launched its military campaign in Gaza following the October 7, 2023, Hamas-led attack that killed about 1,200 people and took 250 hostages. Since then, over 39,000 Palestinians have been killed, according to Gaza health officials, and much of the territory lies in ruins. International mediators have warned that continued rejection of ceasefire terms risks deeper regional instability, including escalation with Lebanon’s Hezbollah and Houthi attacks in the Red Sea.

Barghouti warned that without consequences for Israel’s refusal to engage in serious talks, future agreements will be meaningless. Analysts suggest Netanyahu’s hardline stance is driven by domestic politics ahead of elections and pressure from far-right coalition partners. The U.S. has so far avoided publicly criticizing Israel, but its ability to broker peace is weakening as the humanitarian crisis worsens. Humanitarian groups say only a political solution can end the suffering and prevent further destabilization in the region. What happens next depends on whether Washington will push harder for compromise or allow Israel to continue its military-first approach.