"Israel rejects 15-point Board of Peace plan, the IDF will not withdraw from Gaza until Hamas is disarmed"

Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu declared Sunday that Israel has rejected a 15-point document discussed in negotiations over Gaza, insisting that the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) will not withdraw as long as Hamas remains armed.

Opening the Cabinet meeting, Netanyahu said Israel would continue military operations until Hamas is “truly disarmed” and any threat to Israeli soldiers and civilians has been eliminated.

“Israel rejects the 15-point document. The IDF will not withdraw until Hamas is truly disarmed and will continue to eliminate any threat against our soldiers and our citizens,” he said.

Netanyahu also addressed tensions with Iran, saying Tehran had refrained from launching a direct attack on Israel because it feared the consequences of Israeli retaliation. “Iran knows what devastating blow we would deal it if it attacked us,” he said, accusing his political opponents of spreading what he described as “rumors of weakness.”

The prime minister praised US President Trump as “Israel’s greatest friend in the White House,” while reiterating that Israel would not accept a nuclear-armed Iran.

“With or without an agreement, as long as I am Prime Minister, Iran will not have nuclear weapons,” Netanyahu said. “The existence of Israel is not negotiable.”

Turning to Lebanon, Netanyahu said Israeli forces were continuing operations against Hezbollah. He specifically referred to the reported killing of militants in the Ali Taher Ridge area, saying Israel was acting “with determination and intelligence” to counter threats from the group.

On Gaza, Netanyahu again ruled out the establishment of a Palestinian state under his leadership.

“As long as I am Prime Minister, there will be no Palestinian state, neither in Gaza nor in the West Bank. Neither ‘Fatahstan’ nor ‘Hamastan,’” he said.

Netanyahu added that Israel was continuing talks with Washington over the terms of Hamas’ disarmament. He said some US proposals were acceptable to Israel while others were not, stressing that his government would continue to prioritize Israel’s security interests.

“Even in the face of our best friends when necessary,” Netanyahu said, Israel would continue to defend its security interests.