Netanyahu Rejects US Peace Plan, Vows No Palestinian State

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has officially rejected the latest United States-backed peace plan for the Gaza Strip, demanding the full disarmament of Hamas before any withdrawal of Israeli forces. Netanyahu also firmly stated his opposition to Palestinian statehood. “I want to be precise here: Israel rejects the 15-point document,” Netanyahu said in his first direct comments on the plan, adding that the Israeli military would not pull back until Hamas is completely disarmed and would continue to thwart threats to its troops and citizens. He further hardened his position on Palestinian sovereignty, declaring, “As long as I am prime minister, no Palestinian state will be established, not in Gaza and not in the West Bank.” The statement came more than a week after Donald Trump announced a breakthrough in negotiations through his Board of Peace, which issued the 15-point roadmap aimed at securing lasting peace in the region. Netanyahu is currently discussing the plan with the United States, acknowledging some acceptable ideas but rejecting many others. He stressed Israel’s ability to defend its position even against its closest allies for the sake of national security. His right-wing coalition faces political pressure ahead of general elections in late October, trailing in opinion polls, forcing him to balance US pressure with demands from hardline cabinet ministers like Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, who insists the IDF must not withdraw a single millimetre from Gaza. Meanwhile, Hamas said it remains committed to the roadmap drawn up by Trump’s Peace Council. Bassem Naim, a member of Hamas’s political bureau, urged US mediators and guarantors to pressure Netanyahu to comply with the agreement. Hamas insisted it would only implement the deal if Israel halts its attacks on Gaza and withdraws its forces to the agreed lines from the October ceasefire. The rejection is predicted to further strain relations between Netanyahu and Trump, despite the latter’s historically strong support for the Israeli leader. Tensions had already surfaced over Israeli strikes in Lebanon and the government’s reluctant acceptance of a ceasefire with Iran in April. Muslim-majority nations, including Indonesia and Saudi Arabia, have condemned Israel’s violations in Gaza, which they say undermine President Trump’s peace roadmap.