Netanyahu Rejects US-Backed Gaza Roadmap, Insists on Full Hamas Disarmament
The Israeli government has formally rejected a 15-point peace plan endorsed by Hamas, citing the need for complete disarmament. The move underscores growing political tensions within Israel and diverges from recent diplomatic breakthroughs announced by the White House.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has formally rejected a 15-point US-backed peace roadmap for Gaza, stating that Israeli troops will not withdraw from the territory until Hamas is fully disarmed. Speaking at a Cabinet meeting, Netanyahu declared that the Israeli military “will not carry out any withdrawal until Hamas is genuinely disarmed,” specifying that this requirement extends to “heavy weaponry, lighter weaponry, all weaponry.” The rejection places the Prime Minister at odds with US President Donald Trump, who announced a breakthrough on the plan last month.
The roadmap, which Hamas endorsed in late July, proposes that the group surrender its weapons to a new Palestinian police force supervised by the Board of Peace, in exchange for an Israeli withdrawal. Hamas has avoided using the term “disarmament,” arguing instead that it agreed to hand over weapons for storage under a US-backed Palestinian technocratic administration. The group maintains that implementation also depends on Israel meeting its obligations, including withdrawing troops and halting attacks.
Despite the rejection, Netanyahu described Trump as “our greatest friend in the White House,” asserting that Israel would “stand our ground” on matters unacceptable to its government. He noted that Israel remained in talks with Washington, acknowledging that while some US ideas were acceptable, others were not. The White House did not immediately comment on the Prime Minister’s statement. Nickolay Mladenov, the Board of Peace’s high representative for Gaza, clarified to Israel’s Channel 12 that Israeli troops would eventually have to withdraw “sector by sector” once Hamas’ weapons had been collected and rendered unusable.
The dispute occurs at a politically sensitive moment for Netanyahu, ahead of Israel’s national elections on October 27. The Prime Minister faces pressure from far-right coalition partners, including Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, who oppose concessions to Hamas. Smotrich welcomed Netanyahu’s stance, stating that the military cannot withdraw “even a millimetre” from the Gaza Strip. Hamas political bureau member Bassem Naim called on mediators and the US to pressure Netanyahu to adhere to the roadmap, accusing the government of obstructing the process for “internal political and electoral reasons.”
The disagreement highlights broader tensions between Netanyahu and Trump regarding conflict management in the region. The Gaza roadmap builds on a US-mediated ceasefire reached in October 2025. Since then, Gaza health officials report more than 1,250 Palestinians killed in Israeli attacks, while the Israeli military reports five soldier fatalities. Despite ongoing negotiations, Israeli forces continue to control large parts of Gaza, where most of the enclave’s more than 2 million residents remain displaced.
