US allies question Trump's leverage in Middle East after Netanyahu’s rejection of Gaza plan - report

US. allies are increasingly concerned that Prime Minister Netanyahu’s rejection of the Peace Council’s 15-point plan for Gaza could weaken confidence in the council and raise broader questions about the Trump administration’s ability to influence developments in the Middle East, according to a report published Wednesday by Politico.

The report, citing several diplomats and officials familiar with US strategy in the region, said there is growing concern that Washington either lacks the leverage needed to advance its objectives in Gaza or is unwilling to use it.

Diplomats told Politico that the issue could have implications beyond Gaza, potentially complicating U.S. efforts to advance negotiations elsewhere in the region.

“The rejection of the peace plan by Netanyahu carries significant implications for long-term regional stability and for Israel’s security,” an Arab diplomat familiar with US Middle East policy told Politico. The diplomat said President Trump remains the only figure with the potential to influence the situation, arguing that he could seek to restore his political leverage by pressuring Netanyahu to reconsider his position.

The diplomat also warned that Arab and other regional leaders could be forced to balance their interests against a rapidly changing political landscape.

The Peace Council declined to comment directly on the report. However, a source familiar with the organization’s work said its efforts were continuing “at an accelerated pace” and with Israeli cooperation.

The source pointed to a logistical support area currently under construction that is expected to support hundreds of troops who could be deployed to Gaza as part of an international stabilization force.

“The roadmap is between the Peace Council and Hamas,” the source said, emphasizing that separate discussions are being held with Israel. According to the source, Israel is not being asked to take irreversible steps or rely solely on assurances before verified developments occur on the ground.

A Western diplomat familiar with Middle East policy offered a more critical assessment, saying Netanyahu’s rejection indicated that the US strategy toward Israel may be failing.

The diplomat argued that repeated attempts at reconciliation with Israel had resulted in increasingly maximalist demands, and said Netanyahu’s position did not necessarily spell the end of the Peace Council but demonstrated that Israel remained an obstacle to achieving a sustainable two-state solution.

Netanyahu has rejected the 15-point document, saying Israel will not agree to an Israeli withdrawal from Gaza before Hamas is genuinely disarmed.

The Trump administration, however, does not appear to view Netanyahu’s position as a threat to the broader peace effort. A Trump administration official told Politico that the White House believes Netanyahu’s rejection is primarily political and aimed at a domestic audience ahead of Israeli elections.