Israel rejects US 15-point Gaza plan, casting doubt on peace talks

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has officially rejected the 15-point plan proposed by US President Donald Trump to resolve the situation in the Gaza Strip. The announcement was made during a cabinet meeting, where he stressed that Israeli forces will not withdraw until Hamas "truly disarms."

The plan, unveiled by the US-led Peace Council on July 30, is described as a multi-phase roadmap. Under its terms, Hamas would hand over its weapons to a new Palestinian administration, in exchange for a full Israeli withdrawal and the transfer of governance to an independent Palestinian National Committee, backed by international security forces.

Meanwhile, Hamas stated that its compliance with the agreement would depend on Israel fulfilling its commitments. The Peace Council has also confirmed that Israel's withdrawal would only occur after Hamas fully disarms.

However, speaking at the cabinet meeting, Netanyahu declared: "Israel rejects the 15-point document. The military will not carry out any withdrawal until Hamas truly disarms and will continue to prevent threats to our forces and citizens." He also said Israel is in discussions with Washington about its concerns, emphasizing "real disarmament, not fictional disarmament."

According to analysts, Netanyahu's decision comes as he faces a national election expected in October, with polls suggesting he risks defeat. Observers believe this hardline move is aimed at appeasing the right-wing factions within his government.

Al Jazeera's correspondent in the West Bank, Nour Odeh, said discussions over the 15-point plan, including disarming Hamas and the possibility of an Israeli withdrawal, are "extremely contentious" issues for Netanyahu's government. She stressed that the rejection complicates matters for the Peace Council and the mediators who have worked for months.

In Gaza, residents said they "expected" Israel to reject the proposal. Al Jazeera journalist Hani Mahmoud noted that the biggest concern now is growing uncertainty, as the plan—long seen as a structural framework and clear roadmap for withdrawal, disarmament, and the deployment of international stabilization forces—has become meaningless, leaving no clear way to end the fighting.

Political analyst Xavier Abu Eid, a former adviser to the Palestinian negotiating team, argued that from the outset, the Peace Council and related resolutions "served Israel's interests more than the Palestinians' right to self-determination." He also suggested that President Trump is unlikely to be pleased by Netanyahu's rejection, but Trump has never taken action to hold Israel accountable even when it violates shared agreements.

According to figures from the Gaza Health Ministry, Israel has killed more than 73,300 Palestinians in Gaza since the war began in October 2023. Since agreeing to a US-brokered ceasefire in October 2025, Israel has continued attacks, causing over 1,200 more deaths.

Israeli analyst Dan Perry, former head of AP in Europe, Africa, and the Middle East, said Netanyahu's move "doesn't align with the common desire of the Israeli public if they truly understand the situation." He criticized the framing of Israeli security and Palestinian needs as conflicting goals, when in reality they are not opposed.

Meanwhile, former Israeli diplomat Alon Pinkas said Netanyahu needs "a permanent war," and his rejection of the Gaza plan should be viewed in the context of the upcoming election on October 27. According to Pinkas, Netanyahu calculates that "this action carries no risk," and he can defy Trump because he believes the US president is not sufficiently focused on Gaza.