An Israeli official says the United States is sharply increasing pressure on Israel to move forward with a 15-point plan for Gaza, triggering what the official described as “difficult talks” between Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and senior members of the U.S. administration.

According to the official, Israel is now firmly opposed to any partial or gradual demilitarization of the Gaza Strip and is demanding that Hamas be completely disarmed before Israel agrees to additional withdrawals or moves forward with the next stage of the plan.

The official told Channel 12 that Netanyahu initially did not fully understand the severity of the American pressure but has since aligned himself with Israeli officials opposing the proposal and placed a “complete veto” on the current approach.

Israel had previously agreed to a pilot program in Rafah that would establish an area free of Hamas control. However, the official said Israel has since reversed its position, arguing that agreeing to such a framework in the first place was a mistake.

“There is no such thing as gradual disarmament,” the official said. “First, Hamas must be completely disarmed, and only afterward can we discuss the next stage.”

The official stressed that Israel is also rejecting proposals that would see Gaza demilitarized one area at a time, with Israeli forces conducting localized withdrawals as individual areas are cleared.

Israel, he said, is demanding the complete demilitarization of the Gaza Strip and will not accept a framework involving isolated demilitarized zones or piecemeal withdrawals.

Nikolay Mladenov, director-general of the Peace Council, presented a different position in an interview with Channel 12, saying the plan does not require steps to be completed before implementation begins on the ground. According to Mladenov, Israeli withdrawals would occur gradually and in accordance with progress on demilitarization.

“We will dismantle [weapons] area by area,” Mladenov said.

Despite the growing disagreement with Washington, the Israeli official cautioned against actions that could unnecessarily inflame tensions with the Trump administration.

Regarding targeted killings in Gaza, the official said Israel should avoid carrying out a large number of assassinations or other dramatic operations that could be viewed as deliberately provoking the Americans.

“The goal is not to ignite the situation,” the official said, adding that Israeli officials must “tighten their belts” and ensure that no actor on the ground acts independently in a way that could jeopardize the diplomatic process.

Separately, the official addressed Iran, saying Israel views the current situation — in which Tehran remains under intense economic pressure while no meaningful negotiations are taking place — as highly favorable.

The official also confirmed reports that Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian had threatened to resign, saying the mounting economic pressure on Iran is increasingly weighing on his government.

According to the official, if the current conditions continue for another two or three months, Iran could approach what he described as a breaking point.

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