This is a rare public disagreement between two allies who have always maintained they have only 'strategic differences.'
Who is affected, and how
This diplomatic dispute is not just a matter between two leaders. With more than 2 million people in Gaza, it determines how much longer they must live in tent camps or collapsed houses, since the majority of the population has been forced to relocate to a much smaller coastal area. For Israeli military families, it directly relates to the safety of their relatives stationed there. For Israeli voters, this is a central issue in the country's first nationwide election since the October 7, 2023 attack, scheduled for October 27, 2026. For international observers, including Americans following Washington's foreign policy, this is a test of how much the U.S.-Israel relationship, one of America's longest-standing alliances, can withstand public disagreement.
Specifically, on August 2, 2026, Netanyahu declared that the Israeli military will not withdraw from Gaza until Hamas is completely disarmed, including heavy and light weapons. This was a direct response to a 15-point plan that the Peace Board established by President Donald Trump unveiled, which Hamas had announced its agreement with in late July. However, Hamas did not use the word "disarm" but instead said it would accept handing over weapons for storage under the supervision of a U.S.-backed Palestinian technocratic authority.
Why the disagreement erupts right now
The root of the conflict is sequencing. Trump's plan envisions Israel withdrawing troops in phases, in parallel with Hamas gradually disarming, rather than requiring Hamas to hand over all weapons first before Israel begins withdrawing. Netanyahu demands the opposite: Hamas must complete disarmament first, then Israeli forces will withdraw. Nickolay Mladenov, the Peace Board's senior representative on Gaza, told Israeli television that Israel will have no obligations until Hamas hands over all weapons, including Kalashnikov rifles, but ultimately Israeli forces must still withdraw zone by zone.
Timing is also a crucial factor. Israeli elections are approaching, and polls show that Netanyahu's coalition risks losing its majority, with him running even or losing to opponents in some surveys. Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, an extreme right-wing figure in the cabinet, declared that the central objective of the war is to destroy Hamas and the military cannot withdraw even a millimeter from Gaza. In other words, accepting Trump's plan means significant political risk for Netanyahu just before the election.
History: From ceasefire to the 15-point plan
Everything began with a U.S.-mediated ceasefire that took effect in October 2025, accompanied by Trump's comprehensive 20-point plan comprising three phases: ceasefire and humanitarian aid, disarmament and reconstruction, then Palestinian statehood recognition. The first phase exchanged about 2,000 Palestinian prisoners for remaining hostages and allowed Israel to partially withdraw, while Hamas disarmament was left for later negotiations. By late July 2026, Trump announced the detailed 15-point plan elaborating on phase two, and Hamas agreed in principle. This plan also built on a Palestinian technocratic committee established in January 2026 to administer Gaza under international oversight.
Is this unusual?
Public disagreement between Netanyahu and Trump is not unprecedented, but this level is notable. The two have long been seen as close allies, having jointly launched military campaigns against Iran, but have had disagreements over how to handle conflicts in Iran, Lebanon, and Gaza. More unusual is Netanyahu's outright rejection of a plan that Trump himself publicly called a breakthrough in peace negotiations, in a country where the U.S. has invested heavily in diplomacy, including moving its embassy to Jerusalem. Meanwhile, Israeli military operations continue: according to the Gaza Health Ministry run by Hamas, over 1,258 Palestinians have been killed in Israeli attacks since the ceasefire took effect, while the Israeli military has recorded 5 soldiers killed in the same period. Israel currently controls approximately 70 percent of Gaza, according to Palestinian officials and relief organizations cited by NPR.
A group of eight countries comprising the UAE, Qatar, Jordan, Indonesia, Pakistan, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, and Egypt issued a joint statement condemning Israeli military operations, warning that continued fighting could derail the diplomatic process. This is a sign that international pressure on Israel is mounting, not just coming from Washington.
Why did Netanyahu reject a plan that Hamas had already agreed to?
Netanyahu argues that Hamas has not truly committed to complete disarmament, but only agreed to transfer weapons for storage under a monitoring mechanism. He demands Hamas surrender all weapons, from heavy weapons to rifles, before Israeli forces withdraw, while Trump's plan envisions a parallel process unfolding in phases.
Has Trump and Netanyahu severed their alliance?
No. Both continue to declare they maintain the U.S.-Israel alliance and will continue negotiating, despite public disagreement over the sequence of disarmament and withdrawal. Netanyahu has said some U.S. ideas may be acceptable, others not, suggesting this is a policy disagreement rather than a breakdown in the alliance.
Is Netanyahu's rejection of the plan related to Israeli elections?
Likely. Israel will hold nationwide elections on October 27, 2026, and polls show Netanyahu's coalition is below majority support. Far-right members of his cabinet oppose any concessions to Hamas, so maintaining a hardline stance could help him retain right-wing voters.
Is it true that fighting in Gaza has completely ended since the ceasefire?
Not entirely. The ceasefire from October 2025 has sharply reduced large-scale combat, but Israeli attacks continue. According to figures cited by various sources, more than one thousand Palestinians have been killed in Israeli attacks since the ceasefire took effect, so the situation remains unstable.
If Hamas refuses to disarm first, will the peace plan collapse?
Unclear. Hamas says it remains committed to the joint roadmap and is calling on the U.S. and mediators to pressure Netanyahu to follow the agreed plan. Both sides continue to say they will keep negotiating, so currently this is a dispute over the sequence of implementation rather than a complete breakdown of the peace process.
Bảo Nguyễn
Bảo Nguyễn founded Saigon Sentinel to give the Vietnamese diaspora truly independent, in-depth community coverage at a time when misinformation moves faster than fact-checks and the language barrier makes verification harder than it should be. He sets the editorial standards and quality controls that govern the reporting, chooses the subjects, writes and edits each article, reads it against its sources before publication, audits published output, and handles corrections.