Israel rejects Trump's Gaza plan, insists on staying

Israel rejected a 15‑point Gaza plan put forward by former U.S. President Donald Trump. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told a cabinet meeting on Sunday that Israel would not pull troops out of Gaza until Hamas is fully disarmed. The decision comes after the U.S. Board of Peace, which drafted the plan, received Hamas’s approval last month.

The plan was created by a U.S.‑led group that met with Israeli officials in Washington. It calls for an Israeli withdrawal only after Hamas dismantles its weapons and stops attacks on Israel. The board’s director, Nickolay Mladenov, said the move would follow a meeting with Netanyahu. Hamas’s endorsement of the document does not change Israel’s stance, the prime minister said. Israel’s government says the plan is a “disarmament‑only” approach that does not address security guarantees for Israeli civilians.

Israel has kept up a near‑daily bombing campaign in Gaza since a ceasefire was agreed with Hamas in October. The army said it will continue to stop threats to its forces and Israeli citizens. Netanyahu added that the withdrawal would be delayed until Hamas proves it has no weapons. The Israeli military has responded to rocket fire and other attacks, claiming it is protecting its people. The ceasefire has not stopped the violence, and the Israeli government says it will not relax its security posture.

The rejection signals a hard line on Gaza and a break with U.S. policy. The move could strain U.S.–Israel ties and complicate future peace talks. It also raises questions about the effectiveness of a disarmament‑only strategy, as Gaza remains a hotspot for conflict. The next steps will depend on whether Hamas can meet the disarmament conditions and whether the U.S. and other partners can persuade Israel to accept a broader ceasefire. The situation remains volatile, with both sides wary of escalation.