Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has formally rejected a proposed 15-point disarmament plan for the Gaza Strip, pushing back against an initiative that a high-ranking Hamas source confirmed to the BBC that the militant group had already accepted.
The diplomatic fracture follows a late July announcement by US President Donald Trump regarding a framework aimed at securing the complete disarmament of Hamas and other armed factions in the enclave.
Netanyahu Demands Total Disarmament Before Military Withdrawal
Speaking at the opening of a government meeting, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated that Israel officially rejects the 15-point document, according to CNN. Netanyahu emphasized that the Israel Defense Forces will not pull back its troops from the enclave until militant groups are thoroughly disarmed.
"We will continue to avert threats against our forces and citizens," Netanyahu said during the meeting, as reported by CNN. "And when I say disarm Hamas, I mean heavy weapons, less heavy weapons, all weapons. And we’re talking about real disarmament, not a fictitious disarmament."
Netanyahu also noted that discussions with the United States remain ongoing regarding the framework. He stated that Washington has brought forward multiple ideas, some of which are acceptable to Israeli leadership while others are not. He added that under his tenure, no Palestinian state will be established in either Gaza or the West Bank.
Trump’s 15-Point Plan and the Stance of Hamas
President Donald Trump initially unveiled the disarmament agreement in late July, describing it during a press conference as a critical step toward transitioning governance in Gaza to a new Palestinian administration. The initiative follows months of negotiations tied to an earlier US-brokered ceasefire.
While a senior Hamas source told the BBC that the group has agreed to the 15-point plan, the militants have attached strict operational conditions to their acceptance. According to Hamas, the agreement will only be implemented if Israel halts its military operations in Gaza and pulls its forces back to the "yellow line" established under the October ceasefire agreement.
Israeli forces currently maintain control over more than half of the Gaza Strip, with a heavy military presence concentrated in the territory’s eastern and southern sectors.
Did you know? The yellow line is the border that now separates the two parties, where Israel has established what it calls the yellow line, as defined in the ceasefire agreement from October.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does the 15-point plan require?
The plan calls for the complete disarmament of Hamas and other armed factions operating within the Gaza Strip, serving as a precondition for broader political transitions in the territory.
Why did Israel reject the document?
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated that Israel seeks a verifiable, total disarmament covering all heavy and light weapons, and maintains that Israeli troops will not withdraw from the enclave until that condition is met.
What are Hamas’s conditions for accepting the plan?
According to statements reported by the BBC, Hamas insists that Israel must first halt military strikes and pull its forces back to the yellow line defined in the October ceasefire agreement.