Defying Trump's Peace Plan? Netanyahu Firmly States: Israeli Forces Will Not Withdraw from Gaza Unless Hamas Disarms

The Middle East may face renewed instability as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated unequivocally on the 4th that the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) will 'never withdraw' from their current positions and troop deployments in Gaza until Hamas is completely disarmed. This statement effectively rejects the latest Gaza peace agreement draft brokered by U.S. President Donald Trump, exposing an unusually public rift between senior U.S. and Israeli officials that has rarely been seen in decades.

According to Europe News Network, the draft peace proposal previously put forward by the Trump administration required Hamas to begin handing over weapons and disarming in exchange for Israel halting all airstrikes and gradually withdrawing from 60% of the Gaza Strip currently under its control. The draft was built upon a phased ceasefire agreement reached in October 2025 and was regarded as a major breakthrough toward ending the nearly three-year-long war.

However, Netanyahu, who faces a re-election challenge in October, has opted to maintain a hardline stance of 'disarmament first, withdrawal later,' considering domestic political realities. In a video posted on social media, Netanyahu stated, 'The Trump administration gave us a draft, but we did not agree because it is not our draft. We have submitted our own revisions—these reflect Israel's true position. The IDF will continue to take all necessary measures to protect itself, our territory, and our citizens!'

According to Israel's Channel 12, Netanyahu held talks with representatives from the Board of Peace, during which negotiations were described as 'extremely difficult.' Representative Nickolay Mladenov insisted that Israel immediately cease attacks on Gaza and fully commit to the U.S. proposal, but Netanyahu rejected the demand outright. The hardline prime minister emphasized that, given the ongoing threat posed by Hamas, Israel would neither cease fire nor withdraw from its current defensive lines.

Under pressure during the talks, the Board of Peace revised its public statement on social media, significantly shifting its position toward Israel. The original draft's wording—'Israel will begin a full withdrawal before Hamas disarms'—was deleted and replaced with 'Israel will not begin withdrawing from the Yellow Line before Hamas is fully disarmed.'

Israel has explicitly rejected the inclusion of Qatari and Turkish representatives in the international committee overseeing Hamas's disarmament. Moreover, Israel firmly opposes proposals to 'safely store' the weapons surrendered by Hamas, insisting instead that all weapons must be destroyed on-site.

Meanwhile, Khalil al-Hayya, the newly appointed head of Hamas's political bureau, led a delegation to Istanbul for a secret meeting with Ibrahim Kalin, head of Turkey's National Intelligence Organization (MIT). Al-Hayya urged the international community to increase pressure on Israel to promptly fulfill its ceasefire commitments. However, The Times of Israel suggests that with Israel's parliamentary elections scheduled for October 27 and Netanyahu's government backed by top military officials, it is highly unlikely that any substantive compromise on Gaza withdrawal will be made before the election. The Gaza peace negotiations are expected to remain locked in prolonged diplomatic deadlock.