Netanyahu Rejects Trump's 15-Point Gaza Disarmament Roadmap

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu formally rejected a 15-point peace roadmap for Gaza proposed by U.S. President Donald Trump and the Board of Peace. During a cabinet meeting on August 10, Netanyahu declared that the Israel Defense Forces will not withdraw from the enclave until Hamas is genuinely disarmed, including the surrender of all heavy and light weaponry. This position contradicts the proposed framework, which envisioned a phased process where decommissioning and troop withdrawals occurred in lockstep.

Negotiations reached an impasse as Hamas expressed commitment to the plan but conditioned its disarmament on a complete halt to Israeli aggression and a full military withdrawal. The Board of Peace, an international body established by Trump, attempted to bridge the gap by clarifying that Israeli forces would only withdraw beyond the Yellow Line—a military zone in southern Lebanon—once decommissioning was verified. Despite the public rift, reports indicate Israel has scaled back targeted assassinations and authorized some foreign troops into Rafah to restore services.

Analysts suggest Netanyahu's defiance is driven by domestic political pressure ahead of Israel's October 27 general elections, as he seeks to appease far-right coalition partners who demand the complete erasure of Hamas. While Trump has described the disarmament agreement as a monumental step toward peace, Netanyahu has vowed that no Palestinian state will be established under his leadership. Mediators from Egypt, Qatar, and Turkey have condemned continued Israeli strikes in Gaza, urging the international community to pressure Israel to fulfill its obligations.