International Desk:
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has formally rejected a 15-point Peace Roadmap presented by US President Donald Trump aimed at disarming Hamas and ending the conflict in Gaza. Despite the stern rebuff from Jerusalem, Washington views the move as domestic political rhetoric rather than a fatal blow to the diplomatic initiative.
White House officials reportedly remain unfazed by the statements, attributing Netanyahu’s posturing to the high-stakes general election scheduled in Israel for October 27. A senior US official noted that Washington understands the domestic pressure on the Israeli leader, provided military restraint on the ground continues as requested by US mediators.
Addressing his cabinet on Sunday, Netanyahu stated emphatically that Israel does not accept the 15-point framework. He insisted that the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) will maintain their positions in the territory until a complete, verifiable decommission of all heavy and light weaponry from Palestinian militant groups is achieved.
Analysts point out that Netanyahu is walking a delicate tightrope. Facing his first general election since the October 7, 2023 attacks—and having yet to fulfill his promise of “absolute victory”—the Prime Minister must appease hardline coalition partners and right-wing voters without permanently alienating the White House.
The diplomatic framework, unveiled via President Trump’s Truth Social platform following months of multi-party negotiations, proposes a phased resolution:
The decommissioning and storage of all weapons held by Hamas and allied factions under the oversight of a new Palestinian administrative body reporting to the Board of Peace.
A staged retreat of Israeli forces from the over 60% of Gaza territory currently under their control.
The deployment of an International Stabilization Force (ISF) working alongside local police to maintain security and pave the way for reconstruction.
While Hamas signaled conditional approval of the agreement, far-right Israeli ministers and opposition politicians voiced strong skepticism regarding enforcement mechanisms and sequencing.
Despite the political friction, operational planning continues. Groundwork for the first ISF base in southern Gaza near Rafah remains scheduled to begin shortly, according to Israeli public media reports. High Commissioner for Gaza Nickolay Mladenov reassured the public that any phased troop withdrawal would be strictly contingent upon verified, step-by-step arms decommissioning rather than blind trust.
With the upcoming US midterm elections putting pressure on Washington’s foreign policy record, President Trump is expected to maintain heavy diplomatic leverage on all parties to secure a concrete resolution in the region.