Israel rejects Trump’s Gaza plan, Netanyahu vows no pullout until Hamas disarmed

Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has rejected a 15-point U.S. proposal for Gaza, insisting that Israeli troops will not withdraw from the territory until Hamas is “genuinely” disarmed. The plan, put forward by former President Donald Trump, was meant to outline a framework for ending the current conflict. But Netanyahu’s office made clear on [day] that Jerusalem sees the proposal as unacceptable in its current form. “Our military will not leave Gaza as long as Hamas retains the capacity to fight,” a senior Israeli official said, echoing the prime minister’s stance. “Disarmament must be real and verifiable, not just a promise on paper.” The rejection marks a public rift between Israel and the Trump team, which had presented the plan as a breakthrough. Under the proposal, Israel would have phased out its ground presence in exchange for a hostage release and a temporary ceasefire. Washington has not yet issued a formal response to Netanyahu’s refusal. But diplomats familiar with the talks say the U.S. side is pressing for a revised version that addresses Israel’s security demands without derailing the broader ceasefire negotiations. For now, the fate of the plan remains unclear. What is certain is that Netanyahu’s hard line leaves the next move with Hamas — and with the mediators trying to bridge the gap.