JERUSALEM — Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday rejected a 15-point U.S.-backed plan for Gaza, saying Israeli forces would not withdraw until Hamas was fully disarmed, in a fresh disagreement with U.S. President Donald Trump.
“Israel does not accept the 15-point document,” Netanyahu said at a cabinet meeting, according to Israeli media. He said the Israeli military would not carry out any withdrawal until Hamas had undergone what he described as genuine disarmament, including the removal of heavy and light weapons.
Trump had presented the plan as a framework aimed at securing the disarmament of Hamas and other armed groups in Gaza. Hamas has endorsed the U.S.-backed framework, according to reports, while Israel had previously expressed reservations without formally rejecting it.
Netanyahu also said Israel was continuing discussions with Washington over the proposal, adding that some elements were acceptable to his government while others were not. He reiterated his opposition to the establishment of a Palestinian state in Gaza or the West Bank while he remained prime minister.
The latest position leaves key elements of the U.S.-backed framework unresolved, including the conditions for an Israeli military withdrawal. Further developments in the negotiations remain pending.
