Netanyahu Rejects Trump-Backed Gaza Disarmament and Withdrawal Plan

An impasse has emerged over a U.S.-backed peace framework for the Gaza Strip, as Benjamin Netanyahu officially rejected a 15-point roadmap proposed by the Board of Peace. While President Donald Trump hailed the agreement as a "historic agreement" and a "major milestone," Netanyahu asserted that the Israel Defense Forces will not withdraw from their current positions until Hamas achieves genuine and complete disarmament, including the surrender of all heavy and light weaponry.

Negotiations led by the Board of Peace, headed by high representative Nickolay Mladenov, sought a phased Israeli withdrawal in exchange for Hamas decommissioning its weapons and transferring governance to a technocratic Palestinian body. Hamas has declared its readiness to implement this second phase, though it conditions its disarmament on a complete halt to Israeli aggression and a full military withdrawal. In response to these tensions, Israel recently scaled back targeted assassinations in Gaza, requiring approval from the IDF chief of staff for proactive strikes.

Internal Israeli pressure has mounted, with far-right ministers demanding the total erasure of Hamas and the rejection of any ceasefire roadmap. Meanwhile, the Board of Peace clarified that military withdrawal beyond the "Yellow Line"—a security zone in Gaza—would only occur after full decommissioning. Despite these diplomatic efforts, the standoff continues to obstruct humanitarian crossings and reconstruction, with Israel characterizing Hamas's consent as a strategic ambush.