Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has rejected a fifteen-point Gaza peace plan proposed by the Peace Council established by United States President Donald Trump, according to Reuters and DPA. Hamas previously accepted the proposal, leaving the diplomatic initiative at an impasse over the disarmament and withdrawal timeline for the Gaza Strip.
Netanyahu Conditions Gaza Pullback on Complete Hamas Disarmament
Israeli leadership has firmly rejected the framework outlined by the Trump-appointed Peace Council. According to DPA, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu addressed a cabinet session to clarify that military forces will not withdraw until Hamas is entirely disarmed. Netanyahu emphasized that this requirement applies to all weaponry, not solely heavy armaments.
The Peace Council stated approximately a week prior that a complete Israeli withdrawal from the coastal strip is only anticipated following the disarmament of Hamas.
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Diplomatic Stains and Competing Demands from Hamas and Mediators
According to AFP, a Hamas representative urged the United States on Sunday to exert pressure on Netanyahu to accept the subsequent phases of the plan.
Nikolaj Mladenov, a high-ranking official representing the Peace Council for the Gaza Strip, defended the initiative in a Sunday interview with the Israeli broadcasting network Channel 12. Mladenov stated that the plan rejected by Netanyahu represents the only viable path forward to prevent a recurrence of the tragedy that began with the October 7, 2023, attacks launched by Hamas on southern Israel.
Territorial Lines and the Mechanics of the Peace Proposal
The disputed peace document proposes that the Israeli military pull back to the original yellow line. This boundary previously divided the Gaza Strip following a ceasefire and hostage release agreement struck with Hamas in October 2025. Since that agreement, the Israel Defense Forces have expanded their territorial control from roughly 53 percent to over 60 percent of the enclave.
While the precise details and timeline of the document remain unreleased, the framework anticipates a gradual yet complete disarmament of Hamas and all other Palestinian factions operating within Gaza. Concurrently, it outlines the withdrawal of Israeli troops. Under the accepted terms, Hamas agreed to transfer its arms to a committee of Palestinian technocrats tasked with assuming administrative control over the territory.
Casualties and Conflict Background
The October 2025 ceasefire temporarily subdued a conflict triggered by the October 7, 2023, assault led by Hamas and its allies, which resulted in approximately twelve hundred deaths, primarily among Israeli civilians. The subsequent large-scale military operations conducted by Israel in the Gaza Strip have led to the deaths of more than 73 tisíc people, mostly Palestinian civilians, according to figures provided by Palestinian authorities.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the fifteen-point Gaza peace plan?
The plan is a diplomatic initiative drafted by the Trump-established Peace Council that outlines a gradual withdrawal of Israeli forces, the disarmament of Hamas, and the transfer of administrative governance in Gaza to a committee of Palestinian technocrats.
Why did Benjamin Netanyahu reject the proposal?
According to DPA and Reuters, Netanyahu stated during a cabinet meeting that the Israeli military will maintain its positions until Hamas is fully disarmed of all weapons, rejecting the immediate withdrawal schedule proposed by international mediators.
How has Hamas responded to the initiative?
Hamas previously accepted the peace framework and, through its representatives, has called on the United States to pressure Israeli leadership into adopting the subsequent stages of the plan.
What territory does the proposal involve?
The plan requires the Israeli military to pull back to the yellow line established during the October 2025 ceasefire and hostage release agreement, reversing subsequent territorial expansions that brought over 60 percent of Gaza under active military control.
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