Netanyahu-Trump daylight over Hamas disarmament reflects diverging interests, election pressures

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared Sunday that Jerusalem "does not accept the 15-point document" Negotiated by the U.S.-led Board of Peace and Hamas, which would require the eventual disarmament of the group and withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza. The statement marked a rare public disagreement with the White House, which has championed the plan since its announcement. In Cabinet remarks, Netanyahu stated Israel "would not carry out any withdrawal until Hamas is disarmed."

The dispute represents one of the more significant policy divergences between President Donald Trump and Netanyahu. Trump announced the agreement in late July via his Truth Social account, characterizing it as "HISTORIC" And crediting mediation by Qatar, Turkey and Egypt for achieving a "critical step towards Gaza finally being governed by a new Palestinian government."

According to the Board of Peace agreement, Hamas weapons "shall be transferred or handed to Israel or non-Palestinian parties" And will instead "be decommissioned and stored" By the Palestinian technocratic government in Gaza.

Jonathan Conricus, a former IDF spokesperson now at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, suggested mediating countries have insufficient motivation to press for disarmament. "Its all a show, its a charade, a spectacle," He said, adding that genuine disarmament requires weapons to be "actually handed in, and if that is verified."

Danielle Pletka of the American Enterprise Institute characterized the break as "inevitable," Noting differing stakes for the two countries. "The Board of Peace is a game for Washington, and life or death to Israel," She said.

Netanyahu faces an October 27 election deadline. Dan Rothem, a senior analyst at Israel Policy Forum, observed that Netanyahu is "carefully maneuvering between Trump and the constraints of Israeli politics." Rothem noted that public rejection of the document allows Netanyahu to "signal toughness to his base ahead of elections while still keeping channels open with Washington," Though he added that on-the-ground reality will ultimately matter more than campaign rhetoric. Israel had scaled back attacks in Gaza following a Netanyahu meeting with Board of Peace head Nickolay Mladenov, and the Israeli Cabinet approved the framework for the Board of Peace's International Stabilization Force.