Netanyahu’s Firm Stance on Gaza

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has firmly rejected a 15-point plan for Gaza introduced by President Donald Trump’s Board of Peace. He made it clear that Israeli forces will remain in the territory until Hamas is completely disarmed. At a Cabinet meeting on Sunday, Netanyahu emphasized that Israel demands a genuine disarmament process, not merely symbolic actions.

Netanyahu’s objections focus on the sequence outlined in the proposal, which connects Hamas’ disarmament with a phased Israeli withdrawal and the transition of Gaza’s administration to a U.S.-supported Palestinian committee. Additionally, Netanyahu reiterated his opposition to the formation of a Palestinian state, asserting that Israel must maintain the capability to address threats from Gaza.

Netanyahu’s Cabinet Meeting Remarks

During the Cabinet meeting, Netanyahu dismissed any suggestions about Israel accepting the proposal. I wish to be precise here: Israel rejects the 15-point document, he stated. He clarified that Israel would not initiate the phased troop withdrawal proposed in the plan until Hamas surrendered its entire arsenal.

Netanyahu broadly defined the demand for disarmament, covering heavy weapons, less-heavy weapons, all weapons. He stressed, We are talking about genuine disarmament, not fictitious disarmament. This stance contradicts a key aspect of the proposal, which indicates that Hamas’ arms would be decommissioned as Israeli forces withdraw in stages.

Negotiations with Washington are ongoing, yet Netanyahu indicated that Israel would not automatically accept proposals from its closest ally. He stated, They have ideas; some of them are acceptable to us and some are not acceptable to us, while emphasizing Israel’s ability to stand its ground on these matters.

The Israeli military will continue operations in Gaza as the dispute remains unresolved. Netanyahu reiterated his opposition to Palestinian statehood, asserting, As long as I am prime minister, there will be no Palestinian state, not in Gaza and not in Judea and Samaria. He concluded, Neither ‘Fatahstan’ nor ‘Hamastan,’ referencing the biblical term for the occupied West Bank and derogatory labels derived from the names of the rival Palestinian factions Fatah and Hamas.

Details of the 15-Point Gaza Roadmap

The 15-point proposal is part of the second phase of Trump’s broader 20-point Gaza plan. Released by Trump’s U.S.-led Board of Peace on July 30, it aims to link Hamas’ disarmament with an Israeli withdrawal, a transition of governing authority, and Gaza’s reconstruction.

According to the plan, Israel and Hamas would stop military operations and fulfill their commitments under the October 2025 ceasefire agreement. Within 14 days of all parties approving the roadmap, officials would establish a timetable and mechanisms for implementation.

The proposal requires Hamas and other Palestinian factions to relinquish civilian and security control to the National Committee for the Administration of Gaza (NCAG), an interim body led by Palestinian technocrats. The NCAG, supported by the Board of Peace, would manage public services, government finances, and internal security. Hamas would be prohibited from interfering with the NCAG’s operations.

Security provisions emphasize One Authority, One Law, One Weapon. Police officers would undergo vetting and have their firearms placed under NCAG control. Hamas and other armed groups would gradually hand over weapons, production facilities, weapons depots, and tunnels. Militia members would be banned from joining Gaza’s new police service.

An International Verification Committee would confirm each side’s compliance with obligations before advancing the process. A temporary International Stabilization Force would monitor the ceasefire, train Palestinian police, secure aid deliveries, and separate Israeli troops from areas under NCAG control.

The roadmap connects verified disarmament steps to a phased Israeli withdrawal, rather than requiring complete obligations from one side beforehand. Israeli forces would retreat as arms are decommissioned, with continued stages depending on confirmation that previous commitments are met.

The final step aims for Gaza’s reconstruction under a plan managed by the Board of Peace and the Palestinian committee. It suggests implementation should pave the way toward Palestinian self-determination and statehood — a concept that contradicts Netanyahu’s stance.

Hamas showed conditional support for the proposal, stating that its implementation hinges on Israel ceasing attacks and fulfilling its own commitments. However, the disagreement over which side must complete steps first — Hamas’ disarmament or Israeli withdrawal — remains the primary barrier.