Netanyahu Refuses Ceasefire or Withdrawal in Gaza Under Peace Plan: Report

JERUSALEM — According to a report in Israeli media, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has refused to accept a ceasefire or military withdrawal in Gaza under US President Donald Trump’s plan. The report, published Monday, said Netanyahu informed the Board of Peace’s special envoy for Gaza, Nikolai Mladenov, of his opposition during a meeting on Monday.
Israeli daily “Israel Hayom” cited reporters as saying Netanyahu told Mladenov: “Israel will not withdraw from its position of control in Gaza, nor will it agree to a ceasefire.” He also claimed that Hamas is rebuilding its military capabilities and poses a direct threat to Israeli forces and communities surrounding Gaza.
According to the report, Israel’s National Security Council had earlier conveyed all of Netanyahu’s reservations regarding the terms of the Gaza ceasefire roadmap to the Board of Peace and President Trump’s team. Subsequently, on Friday, the Board of Peace issued a draft agreement outlining the principles and implementation mechanism for the next phase of Trump’s Gaza plan, including proposed security, administrative, and transitional arrangements alongside a political framework.
Against this backdrop, Hamas said it was awaiting a formal and clear response from the Board of Peace’s envoy and mediators regarding understandings on implementing the second phase of the ceasefire agreement. A senior Hamas source said in a statement on the group’s Telegram channel: “Hamas and Palestinian factions remain committed to what has been agreed for implementing the second phase of the ceasefire agreement, including the obligations of all parties.” Separately, on Friday, the Board of Peace and President Trump announced an agreement on implementing the next phase of the Gaza ceasefire, with the Board stating that Hamas had accepted the detailed roadmap.
Meanwhile, Israel’s public broadcaster KAN reported that the Israeli military has set three red lines regarding the 15-point framework. According to the report, senior military officials will present these demands during a discussion with Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir on Wednesday. The first condition is full freedom of operation to eliminate threats in Gaza. The military has also demanded control over weapons in Gaza and opposes any partial or phased withdrawal until Hamas is fully disarmed. KAN said these military demands will be presented to the political leadership, which will have to decide on them.
According to Gaza’s Palestinian Ministry of Health, Israeli military operations since October 2023 have killed more than 73,000 people and wounded over 174,000 in Gaza. The ministry said that despite a ceasefire agreement in effect since October 10, 2025, attacks continued across the region, killing a further 1,250 Palestinians and wounding 4,110 others.