Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has rejected a 15-point Gaza proposal put forth by the Board of Peace, stating that Israeli forces will not withdraw from the enclave until Hamas is genuinely disarmed. Netanyahu conveyed this stance during a Cabinet meeting on Sunday, emphasizing that any agreement must involve the terror group surrendering its entire arsenal.
"It needs to be genuine disarmament, not fictitious disarmament," Netanyahu said, specifying that this includes both heavy and lighter weapons. He indicated that Israel remains in discussions with the United States regarding Hamas's disarmament.
Hamas, however, stated that it remains committed to a Gaza roadmap agreed upon with mediators and representatives of the Board of Peace ten days prior in Cairo. Senior Hamas official Basem Naim told Reuters that the group expects mediators and the U.S. to pressure the Israeli government to adhere to this roadmap.
Former President Donald Trump had previously suggested a breakthrough in efforts to advance the peace process, stating last month that Hamas had agreed to lay down its weapons. Hamas has controlled Gaza for nearly two decades, prior to its Oct. 7, 2023, attack on Israel.
Despite Trump's earlier statements, Netanyahu's comments indicate a divergence on the specifics of disarmament and withdrawal. Israel has continued military operations in Gaza since a ceasefire took effect last October, with the disarmament of Hamas and the withdrawal of Israeli forces remaining central to ongoing negotiations.
Netanyahu also reiterated his opposition to the establishment of a Palestinian state in either Gaza or the West Bank. "As long as I am prime minister, there will be no Palestinian state, not in Gaza and not in Judea and Samaria," he stated. "Neither ‘Fatahstan’ nor ‘Hamastan.’"
The Israeli leader's rejection of the proposal highlights the challenges in transitioning from a ceasefire to a lasting settlement, particularly concerning the sequence of Hamas's disarmament and an Israeli military withdrawal. Netanyahu affirmed that Israel would continue to work with Washington but would hold firm on its security demands, prioritizing Hamas's complete disarmament before any Israeli troop departure from Gaza.
In other regional matters, Netanyahu reported that the Israeli military had recently acted "forcefully" in Lebanon and carried out "very important activity." He also addressed Iran, stating that Tehran has refrained from striking Israel due to Israel's retaliatory capabilities. He praised President Trump and the U.S.-Israel alliance for efforts to prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons.
"I greatly appreciate President Trump," Netanyahu said. "He is the greatest of our friends in the White House. I greatly appreciate the historical partnership with the U.S. against Iran's attempts to acquire nuclear weapons."
He concluded by stating, "And I wish to emphasize once again: With or without an agreement, as long as I am Prime Minister, Iran will not have a nuclear weapon. Because the existence of our precious country, the country of all of us, the existence of Israel, is not up for negotiation."