Netanyahu Rejects US Plan: Israel Will Not Withdraw Troops from Gaza Until Hamas is Fully Disarmed

On August 10, 2026, political tensions surrounding the Gaza Strip reached a new peak. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, during a cabinet meeting, officially announced the rejection of the peace initiative proposed by the United States. The 15-point document was rejected by Israeli leadership as unacceptable in its current form.

Israel's Hardline Stance: "Real" vs. "Formal" Disarmament

The head of government emphasized that the withdrawal of Israeli armed forces from the territory of the Gaza Strip is possible only on the condition of the real, not merely declarative, cessation of the existence of Hamas armed formations. Netanyahu stated that the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) would continue operations to neutralize any threats against soldiers and civilians until security is guaranteed 100%.

"We do not accept the proposed 15-point document," Netanyahu stated, adding that he is currently holding active consultations with US officials to find a compromise that does not jeopardize Israel's national security.

Hamas Position: Weapons Only After Troop Withdrawal

For its part, the leadership of the Hamas group declared the fundamental impossibility of surrendering heavy weaponry until the complete cessation of Israeli aggression and the withdrawal of all troops from the territory. Representatives of the organization indicate that they remain committed to the peace agreements reached earlier in Cairo, however, they consider Israel's current demands unfulfillable without changing conditions on the ground.

Contradictory Data

There is a fundamental divergence in the interpretation of the peace plan conditions between the parties to the conflict and their international mediators. On the one hand, US President Donald Trump previously stated that an agreement had been reached on the complete disarmament of Hamas, according to which the next step after surrendering weapons should have been the withdrawal of Israeli troops. On the other hand, Netanyahu rejects this plan, insisting that disarmament must be completed and verified *before* the start of troop withdrawal. Hamas, in turn, demands the reverse order of operations: troop withdrawal as a condition for starting the disarmament process. This creates a deadlock situation that Washington is trying to overcome by revising the terms.

International Context and the Role of the US

The initiative for a peaceful settlement was announced against the backdrop of statements about reaching an agreement on the demilitarized status of Gaza. The US views the 15-point plan as a necessary condition for starting large-scale reconstruction of the territory after the end of hostilities. However, despite optimistic statements from Washington about regional stabilization, the practical implementation of the plan has met with stiff resistance from the Israeli side, which is not willing to take risks associated with the possible preservation of Hamas's combat potential.