Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu faced mounting pressure from far-right members of his government to reject a recently announced plan by U.S. President Donald Trump aiming for the disarmament of Hamas in exchange for a phased Israeli withdrawal from Gaza. The proposal, put forward by Trump’s Board of Peace, outlines a framework where Israeli forces would gradually leave the Palestinian enclave as Hamas and other armed groups relinquish their weapons.
Trump’s Board of Peace, an international body established earlier this year to oversee post-war Gaza, released the full text of a “roadmap” intended to fulfill a 20-point ceasefire plan originally drawn up last October that helped end two years of conflict between Israel and Hamas. The new roadmap includes commitments to halt Israeli military strikes in Hamas-controlled areas and proposes the establishment of a pathway toward Palestinian statehood—elements that could pose political challenges for Netanyahu.
Far-right Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir publicly called the deal “unacceptable,” urging Netanyahu to reject it. Writing on the social media platform X, Ben-Gvir criticized dialogue with Hamas, describing its members using a term referencing Nazis and asserting that the only acceptable solution would involve encouraging Palestinian emigration and the destruction of Hamas. Ben-Gvir's remarks reflect deep skepticism toward any negotiated agreement with the militant group following the October 7 attack on Israel.
Hamas responded by stating that any progress on the proposed roadmap depended first on Israel fulfilling prior obligations, including increasing humanitarian aid into Gaza, which remains heavily affected by conflict. The militant group’s stance underscores the continued mistrust and complex dynamics surrounding the enforcement of any ceasefire or political settlement in the territory.
In Israel, there has been no public comment from Netanyahu regarding the plan. However, an Israeli official issued a statement emphasizing that Netanyahu had not discussed Gaza during his recent meeting with Trump in Washington. The official maintained that the proposed plan does not meet Israel’s key demand for “complete disarmament of Hamas, including the removal of weapons from Gaza and the full demilitarisation of the Strip as a precondition to any process.” The statement reiterated a firm Israeli position that there would be no withdrawal of Israeli forces until Hamas fully disarms.
Opposition figures also voiced strong criticism. Avigdor Lieberman, the former defense minister and leader of the Yisrael Beiteinu party known for his hawkish views, described any deal with Hamas as a dangerous revisit of failed assumptions that led to the October 7 attack.
The proposed agreement highlights ongoing divisions within Israel’s government and political landscape regarding how to address security and humanitarian concerns in Gaza while pursuing a potential long-term resolution. It also reflects the broader challenges facing international efforts to stabilize the region and prevent further conflict.