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Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu insists he has rejected President Donald Trump’s plan for Gaza and will not withdraw forces until the Palestinian group Hamas fully disarms, risking more obstacles in the increasingly complex efforts to reduce escalation on multiple fronts in the region.
There was no immediate response from the White House. In a statement published on Telegram later on Sunday, Hamas said it remained committed to fully implementing the plan.
The Palestinian armed group called on mediators and guarantor countries to “assume their responsibilities” and prevent any “violations or breaches” that could derail the process.
Israel has continued to carry out near-daily deadly attacks across the Gaza Strip regardless of a so-called “ceasefire” with Hamas last October. Trump announced a “historic” agreement on July 30 that entailed “the complete disarmament of Hamas and all other armed groups in Gaza”, which he called “a monumental step toward lasting peace and security”.
The deal was credited to the US-led Board of Peace, inaugurated in February 2026 and including roughly 40 countries, including Israel and several Arab states, though no Palestinian representatives, with Trump installed as its chair for life.
Speaking to his cabinet on Sunday, Netanyahu vowed that “as long as I am prime minister, no Palestinian state will arise” and emphasized that Israel would not abide by the US-backed plan. Israel’s desire for “real disarmament, not fictitious disarmament” would mean the removal of all weaponry, including lighter weapons, he said.
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