Why Netanyahu chose to publicly reject Trump on Gaza ceasefire plan

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has publicly rejected a Gaza ceasefire plan recently proposed by former U.S. President Donald Trump, citing Israel's unwavering demand for the complete disarmament of Hamas. The 15-point proposal, touted by Trump's "Board of Peace" as a significant step toward ending the conflict, outlined a phased approach for Hamas to lay down its weapons in exchange for an Israeli military withdrawal from the Gaza Strip. Netanyahu explicitly stated on Sunday, August 9, 2026, that "Israel does not accept the 15-point document" and emphasized that no Israeli forces would withdraw until Hamas was "genuinely disarmed" of all its weaponry.

This rejection comes amidst ongoing Middle East tensions and just ahead of Israeli elections in October 2026, with Netanyahu facing domestic pressure from his right-wing base to maintain a hardline stance. Despite the public disagreement over the peace initiative, Trump, who had previously described the plan as a "historic agreement," affirmed that his relationship with Netanyahu remains "very good". Hamas, for its part, reportedly reaffirmed its commitment to the plan and called on mediators to pressure Israel for its implementation.