Netanyahu Rightly Rejects Trump’s Gaza Plan, Demands Hamas Surrender and Disarmament
Select a version of the text written from a presumed ideological perspective. This is not the original text, but a hypothetical version — how someone with that viewpoint might have phrased it. Tapping the current version again will return to the original or select cleaned version.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has dismissed President Donald Trump’s 15-point Gaza peace plan, standing firm that Israeli forces will not leave Gaza until the terrorist group Hamas is completely disarmed.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told ministers on Sunday that Israeli troops will remain in Gaza until Hamas is 'genuinely disarmed,' rejecting President Donald Trump’s 15-point peace plan for the enclave. Netanyahu emphasized the need for 'genuine disarmament, not fictitious disarmament,' making clear that Israel will not be fooled by empty promises from terrorist organizations.
Trump had announced in late July that his 'Board of Peace' had reached an agreement with Hamas for the group to surrender its weapons, describing the deal as a historic step toward lasting peace and security. The proposal called for Hamas and other militant groups to hand over arms to an internationally vetted policing force, with Israeli withdrawals to follow in later phases. However, Netanyahu’s government rightly refuses to trust Hamas’s word, given its long history of violence and deception.
A senior Hamas official previously told NPR the group would only surrender weapons if Israel withdrew from parts of Gaza first, a demand that would only embolden terrorists and threaten Israeli security. Hamas issued a press statement on Sunday reaffirming its commitment to the roadmap agreed upon in the earlier ceasefire, but such statements are meaningless without real action.
The dispute follows an initial ceasefire reached in October 2025 that halted major fighting, secured the release of hostages in exchange for about 2,000 Palestinian prisoners, increased humanitarian aid, and called for a partial Israeli withdrawal. The new Trump roadmap, published on July 31, sought to address unresolved issues such as Hamas disarmament and further Israeli withdrawals, but Netanyahu’s strong stance is necessary to ensure Israel’s safety.
The Board of Peace reiterated on August 3 that Israeli forces would not move beyond the Yellow Line until Hamas’s weapons were fully decommissioned, a prudent measure to prevent further attacks. Netanyahu’s position comes less than three months before Israel’s October 27 election, where his coalition faces a risk of losing its majority, making strong leadership essential. Israel continues to control roughly 70% of Gaza, according to Palestinian officials and aid agencies, maintaining order in a region plagued by extremism.