Netanyahu rejects Trump's 15-point Gaza roadmap as US preparations continue despite Israeli opposition

Netanyahu rejects 15-point roadmap

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu publicly rejected the 15-point roadmap promoted by the Peace Council for implementing the second phase of the Trump plan for Gaza, stating his position during the weekly cabinet meeting on Sunday, August 9. Netanyahu declared the rejection twice to preclude any misinterpretation, after hearing people claim he had not said it.

I want to be clear: Israel does not accept the 15-point document. I have heard people say: 'You didn't say it.' That's why I'm here and saying it again: Israel does not accept the 15-point document.

He insisted the IDF would carry out no withdrawal from Gaza until Hamas is fully disarmed, defining disarmament comprehensively.

Disarmament means heavy weapons, light weapons, all weapons.

Netanyahu also stated that Israeli military forces will maintain their presence in both Lebanon and Syria.

Trump downplays the rift

On Monday, August 10, Trump sought to contain the fallout, assuring that his relationship with Netanyahu remains "very good." Netanyahu himself had characterized Trump as "the greatest friend of Israel in the White House" while making clear he would oppose him on the Gaza plan. The Americans "have ideas, some are acceptable to us, others not, and we know how to defend our positions on these issues," Netanyahu said.

The relationship between the two men showed strain in April, when, amid negotiations for a US-Iran ceasefire agreement, Trump used unusually harsh language against his Israeli ally, accusing him of trying to undermine Washington's efforts. Trump has politically invested in the Gaza plan, reviving an agreement from last October and seeking a diplomatic success as the Iran situation increasingly appears as a setback for him, according to CNN analysis.

Hamas and the Peace Council

Trump's special envoy Nikolai Mladenov explained via X that the disarmament process should proceed "in absolute synchronization" with the withdrawal of Israeli forces, implying a gradual process where IDF forces would withdraw in stages as Hamas surrendered its weapons. Hamas, for its part, issued a statement affirming its commitment to the roadmap and the Trump plan, declaring itself ready to implement on the ground what the Peace Council promotes, and calling on the Council to pressure Netanyahu to comply.

The Peace Council initially issued a statement saying Israel should "fully withdraw" from the Yellow Line after Hamas disarmament, but within minutes edited the text and removed the word "fully." Even that revised formulation was rejected by Netanyahu, who also reiterated that Israel will not recognize a Palestinian state.

Domestic pressures drive Netanyahu's stance

Netanyahu's public defiance comes against the backdrop of Israeli elections in approximately 2.5 months and significant pressure from his far-right coalition partners. Bezalel Smotrich and Itamar Ben Gvir have raised objections to the Gaza plan, with Smotrich stating the cabinet was misled into approving the entry of an international force into Gaza. According to CNN analysis, Netanyahu appears to calculate that the political cost of clashing with Trump is smaller than the cost of concessions domestically, as he faces difficulties in the polls and needs the support of his far-right allies to maintain hopes of returning to power.

Preparations continue despite rejection

Despite Israel's official rejection, the multinational Civil-Military Coordination Center (CMCC), based in the southern Israeli town of Kiryat Gat and tasked with overseeing implementation of the Trump plan in Gaza, continues its preparations. Israeli state television reported that the multinational staff is proceeding normally, with construction of military installations near Rafah intensifying to house the international stabilization force (ISF).

American staff at the CMCC told Israeli state media that "absolutely nothing has changed" regarding White House orders following Israel's rejection. The same sources expressed the assessment that both Washington and the Peace Council plan to exert further pressure on Netanyahu and his government to change Israel's stance.