Netanyahu Rejects Trump’s Gaza Peace Proposal

Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu rebuffs Trump’s Gaza plan amid rising pressure from far-right ministers and the ongoing conflict with Hamas.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has firmly rejected U.S. President Donald Trump’s latest proposal for peace in Gaza during a televised meeting with his right-wing cabinet. This comes as Israel’s military has effectively ceased its operations in the region under pressure from the United States.

With elections fast approaching on October 27, Netanyahu finds himself in a challenging position, balancing demands from far-right ministers who are dissatisfied with any concessions towards Gaza and the expectations from Trump, who desires progress in resolving the ongoing conflict.

Since a significant meeting on Monday with Nikolay Mladenov, the Gaza envoy for Trump’s Board of Peace, Israel has drastically scaled back its military activities in Gaza. A source revealed that the Israeli military has now agreed to act only against immediate threats and will no longer conduct targeted assassinations, which had previously been a regular part of their operations.

Trump’s recently announced 15-point plan aims for a resolution that includes the withdrawal of Israeli forces contingent on Hamas’s disarmament, along with the establishment of an international stabilization force and a new Palestinian police authority.

However, complications have arisen quickly. Israel maintains that its troops will not withdraw until Hamas disarms, while Hamas insists that Israel must halt its attacks before any discussions regarding disarmament can begin. “Israel does not accept the 15-point document,” Netanyahu stated firmly, reiterating a commitment to not withdraw troops until complete disarmament occurs.

Netanyahu emphasized that they are seeking genuine disarmament, elaborating that Israel is in ongoing talks with the United States about the proposal and acknowledged that while some U.S. ideas are acceptable, others are not.

Hamas officials, for their part, have expressed a commitment to a previously negotiated roadmap with mediators in Cairo. Senior Hamas leader Basem Naim urged the U.S. to pressure Netanyahu to follow through with the terms agreed upon, warning that neglecting these commitments for political reasons could destabilize the region further.

In a statement, Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich underscored the importance of their military goals, saying, “We went to war with a central goal: the destruction of Hamas. The military cannot withdraw even a millimeter from the Gaza Strip.”

Last month, Trump declared that Hamas had agreed to cease its hostilities, marking a pivotal moment in the peace negotiations. Nonetheless, Hamas has refrained from using the term “disarmament,” opting instead to assure that it would surrender weapons under a U.S.-supported Palestinian authority, with the administration expected to oversee the enclave amidst the ongoing tension.

Despite the proposed peace talks, Israel had previously resolved to hunt down militants responsible for an attack on October 7, 2023, leading to heavy clashes and resulting in the deaths of over 1,250 individuals—mostly civilians—since the ceasefire was called. The condition in Gaza remains dire with most of the 2 million residents confined to a severely restricted habitat, exacerbated by ongoing conflicts.