Netanyahu rejects Trump’s Gaza plan as White House downplays remarks

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday rejected US President Donald Trump’s plan for Gaza, insisting that Israeli forces will not withdraw from the territory until Hamas is fully disarmed.

In the first official response from Washington, a senior US official said the White House was “not bothered” by Netanyahu’s comments, describing them as part of Israel’s election season, according to Axios. The official added that the United States understands Netanyahu’s political needs and does not object to his stance as long as he continues to restrain attacks on Gaza.

The US official noted that Netanyahu spoke by phone last week with Trump’s envoy Jared Kushner and pledged to give the 15-point plan a chance despite his reservations, while also promising to limit attacks on Gaza until the disarmament process begins.

Since then, Israel has not launched large-scale attacks on Gaza, and the Israeli military has gradually pulled back toward what is known as the “yellow line.”

US-Israeli disagreements over the plan

Meanwhile, the Israeli newspaper Israel Hayom cited political sources as saying there are disagreements between the United States and Israel over the roadmap, warning of a possible confrontation with the Trump administration if no solution is reached.

The report said Netanyahu’s office sends daily updates to Washington on violations related to Hamas activities in Gaza, as the Israeli government continues to reject the US-backed plan drafted by the Peace Council.

For his part, Nikolay Mladenov, the Peace Council’s high representative, confirmed that Israel has not yet signed the 15-point plan for Gaza, explaining that Israeli withdrawal is contingent on the area being declared free of weapons and tunnels.

Mladenov also told Israel’s Channel 12 that Israeli forces should not be deployed outside the “yellow line” in Gaza.

Hamas position and the roadmap

In contrast, Hamas reaffirmed its commitment to the Peace Council’s plan, calling on the US and mediators to pressure Tel Aviv to implement its terms.

The Peace Council announced in early August 2026 the executive principles of a roadmap to complete the comprehensive peace plan for Gaza, which includes ending the rule of factions, surrendering weapons, and transferring civil and security administration to a national committee to govern Gaza, with factions pledging not to interfere in the committee’s work.