5 Towns CentralNetanyahu Rejects Gaza Peace Proposal, Insists Hamas Must Fully Disarm
By 5 Towns Central Staff
TEL AVIV, ISRAEL (Aug. 9, 2026) — Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel will not accept a proposed Gaza peace framework unless it guarantees the complete disarmament of Hamas, drawing a firm line over one of the central issues in negotiations for a potential end to the war.
Speaking at the opening of the Cabinet meeting, Netanyahu rejected a 15-point document released by the Gaza “Peace Council,” which outlines a potential roadmap toward an agreement with Hamas and includes provisions calling for the terror group to surrender its weapons.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the Start of the Government Meeting:
"Israel does not accept the 15-point document. The IDF will not carry out any withdrawal until Hamas is genuinely disarmed, and it will continue to thwart threats against our forces and citizens."Full… pic.twitter.com/UrVY2FK9wO
— Prime Minister of Israel (@IsraeliPM) August 9, 2026
Netanyahu made clear that Israel does not consider a symbolic or partial weapons handover sufficient.
“The IDF will not carry out any withdrawal until Hamas is disarmed,” Netanyahu said. “And when I say disarmed, I mean heavy weapons, lighter weapons—all weapons.”
He emphasized that Israel is demanding what he called “real disarmament, not fictitious disarmament,” underscoring the government’s position that Hamas cannot retain the military capability to rebuild its forces or threaten Israeli communities.
Netanyahu also acknowledged that the United States has presented Israel with several proposals as part of ongoing efforts to reach an agreement, but said Jerusalem does not accept every element of the American ideas.
“Some of which are acceptable to us and some of which are not,” he said.
The issue of Hamas disarmament remains one of the biggest obstacles to any long-term arrangement in Gaza. Israel has repeatedly said that eliminating Hamas’ military capabilities is essential to preventing another October 7-style attack, while Hamas has resisted demands that it surrender its weapons and military infrastructure.