Israel reacted with skepticism to a Gaza peace proposal announced by Donald Trump, insisting it will not withdraw until Hamas is fully disarmed and Gaza is demilitarized. Trump called the plan a phased process that would hand security to an International Stabilization Force and a new Palestinian police. Israeli officials, a U.S. source and analysts questioned whether Hamas would surrender weapons as pledged, and diplomats said a reported 15-point draft does not meet Israel's demands. Verification, timelines and the mandate for international forces remain unresolved.
Israel Doubts Trump's Gaza Plan Will End Hamas Threat
President Donald Trump (Getty)
Israel has publicly expressed skepticism about a Gaza peace proposal announced Thursday by former President Donald Trump, saying Israeli forces will not withdraw from the territory until Hamas is fully disarmed and Gaza is demilitarized.
Overview of the Proposal
In a post on Truth Social, Mr. Trump described the arrangement as "a critical step toward Gaza finally being governed by a new Palestinian government that will work closely with the Board of Peace to help the Palestinian people." He said the plan would be implemented in phases, with an International Stabilization Force and a new Palestinian police taking responsibility for security as disarmament proceeds.
"Israel will have the security it deserves, with Gaza no longer used as a base for terror attacks," Trump wrote. "The agreement will be carried out in carefully structured phases. As disarmament is completed, Israeli forces will withdraw, and the International Stabilization Force will work with a new Palestinian police force to take responsibility for Gaza being safe for its residents and its neighbors."
Israeli and International Reaction
A U.S. official told The Hill that Israeli authorities remain "skeptical" that Hamas will fully disarm and hand over weapons as the proposal envisions. Israeli analysts and diplomatic sources similarly warned that the draft framework — reported to be a 15-point document — does not yet meet Israel's demand for complete demilitarization of the Gaza Strip.
Amit Segal, chief political analyst at Israel's N12 News, outlined earlier reporting that Hamas would be expected to surrender weapons within "weeks," placing arms into depots guarded by multinational forces and ending recruitment and military activity. Segal said Israeli troops would not pull back behind the so-called "yellow line" until disarmament is verified.
A diplomatic source speaking to The Jerusalem Post reiterated that there will be no Israeli withdrawal to the yellow line until Hamas is disarmed and Gaza is fully demilitarized. Questions remain about verification mechanisms, timelines, the size and mandate of any international stabilization force, and how a new Palestinian security structure would be formed and vetted.
Outstanding Issues
Key challenges include verification of weapons handover, preventing the rearmament of militant groups, defining the role and rules of engagement for multinational forces, and ensuring a credible, accountable Palestinian policing body. Because the plan is conditions-based, progress depends on concrete, verifiable steps by all parties — something Israeli leaders and international observers say is uncertain.
Reporting for this story draws on coverage by Newsmax, The Hill, N12 News and The Jerusalem Post.
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