Netanyahu Rejects US Peace Plan, Vows No Palestinian State

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has officially declared his rejection of the latest peace plan for the Gaza Strip, Palestine, which is supported by the United States. Netanyahu stressed that Israel demands the full disarmament of Hamas before any withdrawal of Israeli forces from the territory.

The statement came more than a week after Donald Trump announced a breakthrough in negotiations through his Board of Peace (BoP), which issued a 15-point plan to secure lasting peace in the region.

“I want precision here: Israel rejects the 15-point document,” Netanyahu said in his first comments directly responding to the plan. He added that the Israeli military would not withdraw at all until Hamas was completely disarmed and would continue to thwart threats to Israeli forces and citizens.

Netanyahu also reinforced his position on Palestinian sovereignty. “As long as I am prime minister, no Palestinian state will be established, not in Gaza and not in the West Bank,” he asserted.

Netanyahu is currently discussing the plan with the United States. He acknowledged that some ideas were acceptable, but many were not. He emphasised Israel’s ability to maintain its position even in the face of its closest allies for the sake of national security.

Netanyahu’s right-wing coalition is currently facing political pressure ahead of the general election at the end of October. Their position is lagging in the polls. The prime minister must balance pressure from the US with the demands of hardline ministers in his cabinet, such as Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, who stated that the IDF must not retreat a single millimetre from the Gaza Strip.

On the other hand, Hamas stated that it remains committed to the roadmap drawn up by Trump’s Peace Council. Bassem Naim, a member of Hamas’s political bureau, urged mediators and guarantors from the United States to pressure Netanyahu to comply with the agreement.

Hamas stressed that it would only implement the agreement if Israel halted its attacks in Gaza and withdrew its forces to the yellow line in accordance with the October ceasefire agreement.

Netanyahu’s rejection of Trump’s initiative is predicted to further strain relations between the two. Although Trump was previously known as a strong supporter of Netanyahu, friction has begun to emerge over Israel’s attacks in Lebanon and the Israeli government’s reluctant acceptance of the ceasefire with Iran last April.