Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has rejected a proposal, touted by the Trump administration's "Board of Peace" and other mediators, for the phased disarmament of Hamas. The proposal called for Hamas to begin disarming while Israel would halt strikes and start withdrawing from the roughly 60% of Gaza it currently controls. Netanyahu, however, stated that Israeli forces will not withdraw until Hamas is completely disarmed, hardening his stance and pushing back against the recent deal.
Netanyahu reiterated his position after meeting with officials from Trump's "Board of Peace," emphasizing that Hamas's disarmament should come first and that Israeli forces would continue to "do whatever is necessary to protect themselves, our territory, and our citizens." He clarified that the Trump administration sent a draft agreement, but Israel did not agree to it, sending back its comments instead. This public disagreement marks a rare display of friction between the Israeli government and the Trump administration.
This rejection casts significant doubt on the success of the deal, which was previously seen as a potential breakthrough for ending the conflict. The agreement had been part of an October ceasefire but has since stalled. Each side has accused the other of violating the truce; Hamas has not disarmed, and Israel has expanded its military presence from 53% to over 60% of the Gaza Strip. The Israeli Prime Minister's stance is that Israel will not withdraw from Gaza until Hamas fully gives up its weapons, while Hamas insists Israel must end its strikes and begin withdrawing first.
According to the Gaza Health Ministry, at least 1,252 people, mostly women and children, have been killed in Gaza since the ceasefire took effect, with five Israeli soldiers also killed during this period. The dispute between Israel and the Trump-backed "Board of Peace" has become the biggest obstacle to implementing President Trump's 20-point plan for ending the conflict in Gaza.
