Israel has rejected US President Donald Trump’s 15-point peace proposal for Gaza, with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu saying the country will not withdraw its troops until Hamas is fully disarmed.
“Israel rejects the 15-point document. The IDF will not carry out any withdrawal until Hamas is genuinely disarmed and will continue to thwart threats against our forces and our citizens,” Netanyahu said at a Cabinet meeting, referring to the Israel Defence Forces.
The statement came a day after Hamas said it was prepared to move ahead with the US-backed proposal and called on Israel to implement its commitments under the plan.
Hamas told Trump’s Board of Peace that it was ready to proceed with the next phase, under which its fighters would hand over their weapons to an emerging Palestinian governing body tasked with administering the war-ravaged Gaza Strip.
“Hamas and other factions have confirmed to mediators their readiness to begin implementing the agreement and move to the second phase, provided it receives Israeli approval and that Israel begins implementing the agreement,” a Hamas official told AFP on Saturday.
The latest developments have deepened uncertainty over the future of the proposed peace framework, with the two sides appearing to remain divided over the key issue of Hamas’ disarmament and an Israeli military withdrawal from Gaza.
The disagreement comes days after the United Arab Emirates and seven other Muslim-majority countries issued a joint statement sharply criticising Israel’s military campaign in Gaza. The countries warned that Israel’s actions risked undermining Trump’s peace initiative aimed at bringing the conflict to an end.
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