Netanyahu rejects Trump Gaza plan on Hamas disarmament

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday rejected President Trump’s plan to disarm Hamas and set up a new governing structure in Gaza, officials said. The refusal was issued through a statement from the prime minister’s office, according to officials, and it signals a public divergence between Israeli and US approaches to Gaza.

Officials said the dispute is unusual in its visibility and carries immediate regional risk because it lands in the middle of active diplomatic efforts. The White House has promoted what officials described as a two-part framework: first removing militant weapons, then putting a Palestinian administration in place in Gaza.

Netanyahu’s response and the White House framework

Officials said Netanyahu’s refusal departs from the approach Washington has advocated and reduces the near-term options for a coordinated US-Israel strategy. The public nature of the split could complicate diplomacy that depends on aligned political commitments and synchronized security steps, officials added.

While officials characterized the US position as a combination of disarmament and a shift to Palestinian administration, Netanyahu’s statement signaled that Israel is not prepared to accept that sequencing as presented. Officials said that difference in direction may narrow the space for mediated steps that require both sides to commit to shared parameters.

Israeli security concerns and operational autonomy

Israeli officials framed the objection primarily as a security concern, officials said. They argued that disarmament measures and an external timetable for forming a government in Gaza could affect operational choices on the ground.

Officials said the disagreement could also reduce flexibility for intermediaries attempting to craft arrangements that bridge security priorities with governance plans. In that context, officials pointed to the risk that a public policy split makes it harder to build packages of mutual assurances that typically support diplomatic movement.

Possible next steps and the August 16, 2026 test If Washington continues to press the plan, officials said Israel may look for alternative guarantees from regional partners in order to preserve operational autonomy. Officials did not specify which partners might provide those guarantees, but linked the idea to ensuring Israel retains freedom of action.

If US policy is scaled back, officials said the bilateral rift could ease. However, they also said that outcome would still leave the question of Palestinian governance in Gaza unresolved.

Officials said the key test will come by August 16, 2026. If no diplomatic follow-up narrows the gap by that date, officials warned the split could harden and complicate mediation efforts involving Egypt and other regional actors.