Last month, former US President Donald Trump announced what he called "a monumental step toward lasting peace and security" after Hamas reportedly accepted a disarmament plan for Gaza. This 15-point plan, unveiled in September last year, included the creation of a Board of Peace to oversee implementation, disarmament of Hamas, withdrawal of Israeli troops, and reconstruction of Gaza.

However, on August 9th, 2026, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu rejected the plan, stating that Hamas must be genuinely disarmed before Israel withdraws its forces from Gaza. He emphasized that the disarmament could not be "fictitious."

Netanyahu also revealed ongoing discussions with US officials about the way forward, noting, "They have ideas; some of them are acceptable to us and some are not, and we know how to stand our ground on these matters."

With Israeli elections approaching, Netanyahu faces pressure from far-right allies, including National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir, who dismissed the draft plan as "not acceptable" and called for a new cabinet vote to end the Gaza plan.

This development marks another setback for Trump's Gaza peace initiative.

Sources