Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has rejected Donald Trump’s 15-point peace plan for Gaza.
“Israel rejects the 15-point document,” he said at a meeting. The Israeli leader said that his country’s forces will not withdrawn from the region until Hamas is disarmed.
“We are talking about genuine disarmament, not fictitious disarmament,” he said Sunday.
In late July, Trump announced that the ceasefire deal had progressed because Hamas and other groups in Gaza had accepted a phased plan that would lead to them surrendering their weaponry to new Palestinian governance and that Israel would begin to withdraw its troops in tandem with disarmament.
However, Netanyahu, currently facing an election, has seemingly changed his mind in the face of criticism.
One of the provisions in the 15-point plan requires Hamas to disarm in exchange for Israel fully withdrawing its military. There would also be a transition to an independent Palestinian National Committee for governance.
Initially, Hamas was reticent to agree with total disarmament until Israel began to withdraw. However, the Board of Peace agreed with Netanyahu that Israeli forces would not withdraw beyond the Yellow Line until Hamas’s weapons were fully deactivated.
The White House has downplayed Netanyahu’s rejection of the plan as political theatre with Israel’s elections coming up in October and its current leader facing mounting opposition.
Israel currently has control over about 70% of Gaza.
Hamas has expressed its commitment to the roadmap as presented.
