Netanyahu said Israeli forces would not withdraw from Gaza until Hamas fully and verifiably disarms.
Speaking at a Cabinet meeting on Sunday, Netanyahu said, “Israel has rejected this 15-point document.”
He added that Israeli forces “will never leave Gaza until Hamas is genuinely disarmed,” and that they would continue to prevent anything that could threaten the security of Israeli soldiers and civilians.
Last month, the Board of Peace, established by Trump, announced that it had reached an agreement providing for the complete disarmament of Hamas and other armed groups operating in Gaza.
Hamas also said it was willing to surrender its heavy weapons, but only if Israel stopped all attacks against it and withdrew its forces from Gaza.
Trump had said Hamas’ agreement to disarm was a major step towards achieving lasting peace and security in Gaza.
Netanyahu, however, said Hamas must lay down its weapons before Israel withdraws its forces from the territory. He stressed that Israel could not accept any disarmament process unless it was genuine and verifiable.
He said he was continuing discussions with US officials to determine the next steps after Israel rejected the plan.
The decision is seen as another obstacle to Trump’s efforts to restore peace in Gaza, a plan first unveiled in September 2025.
Israel has continued military operations in Gaza despite agreeing to an initial ceasefire in October 2025.
The development also comes just months before elections in Israel. Netanyahu may be reluctant to accept measures that his political opponents could portray as concessions to Hamas or as a retreat from Israel’s objectives in Gaza.
For now, the question of which side should first fulfill its commitments remains a major obstacle: Israel insists that Hamas must disarm first, while Hamas demands that Israel first halt its attacks and withdraw its forces from Gaza.
