Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu rejected a U.S. draft proposal that linked the withdrawal of Israeli troops from Gaza to the disarmament of Hamas.
This rejection signals a significant rift between the Israeli government and the White House over the conditions required to end the conflict. By refusing the draft, Israel maintains its current military positions and challenges the U.S. framework for a ceasefire.
Netanyahu announced the decision in a recorded video on July 31, 2024 [1]. He said that the proposal was not a draft created by Israel and therefore did not meet the state's strategic requirements. The prime minister said that the Israeli military would maintain its current presence in the region until the opposing force is neutralized.
"We won’t retreat from the current lines until Hamas lays down all of its arms," Netanyahu said [2].
The prime minister said that Israel rules out any troop withdrawal before Hamas fully disarms [3]. He said the U.S. draft was insufficient to ensure the long-term security of Israel, asserting that a premature withdrawal could allow Hamas to regroup.
"Not our draft – we will not withdraw until Hamas is completely disarmed," Netanyahu said [3].
Israeli officials have maintained that the complete disarmament of Hamas is a non-negotiable prerequisite for any transition of power, or military exit, from the Gaza Strip. This stance places the Israeli government in direct opposition to the mediators' proposal which sought to sequence the withdrawal and disarmament processes differently [1].
“"We won’t retreat from the current lines until Hamas lays down all of its arms."”
The rejection of the U.S. draft proposal indicates that Israel is prioritizing the total military dismantling of Hamas over a diplomatic exit strategy brokered by Washington. This creates a diplomatic stalemate, as the Israeli government is unwilling to accept a phased withdrawal if it perceives a risk that Hamas will retain any military capacity.
