Netanyahu Rejects Trump's 15-Point Gaza Peace Plan, Cites Hamas Disarmament Demand

On Sunday, August 9, 2026, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu rejected a 15-point Gaza peace plan associated with US President Donald Trump's Board of Peace initiative. Speaking at an Israeli cabinet meeting, Netanyahu said the Israeli military would not carry out any withdrawal from Gaza until Hamas is "genuinely" disarmed, and stated Israel would continue to act against threats to its forces and citizens. Trump had previously described the plan as a "historic agreement for the complete disarmament of Hamas and all other groups in Gaza." The rejection followed months of US-led negotiations to broker a ceasefire and disarmament framework for Gaza, efforts multiple outlets report have been underway since September. Netanyahu's statement represents a direct setback to that diplomatic process. In response, a Hamas official said the United States must pressure Israel to accept the next phase of the agreement, calling on mediators and American guarantors to enforce the plan's terms. The immediate practical consequences of Israel's rejection remain unresolved, including whether renewed negotiations will follow, what specific disarmament benchmarks Israel is demanding, and how the US will respond to pressure from Hamas to enforce the agreement. It is unclear from available reporting whether Trump or US officials issued a direct response to Netanyahu's rejection, and the composition or authority of the referenced "Board of Peace" is not detailed across sources. The broader status of the ceasefire process and any timeline for further diplomatic engagement remain undetermined.