TEL AVIV — Israel has rejected a 15-point Gaza proposal announced by U.S. President Donald Trump, with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu insisting that Israeli forces will not withdraw from Gaza until Hamas is fully disarmed.
Netanyahu told a Cabinet meeting that Israel rejects the document while emphasizing that discussions with Washington over the future of Gaza are continuing. He said Israeli forces would not carry out a withdrawal unless Hamas is “genuinely disarmed.”
The Israeli position represents a significant challenge to Trump’s proposed framework, which envisioned Israeli forces withdrawing as Hamas completes its disarmament. Hamas, meanwhile, said it remains committed to the broader roadmap and called on mediators and the United States to pressure Netanyahu.
The developments come as efforts to secure a lasting political settlement in Gaza remain fragile following the war that began with the Hamas-led attack on Israel on October 7, 2023.
Meanwhile, new details have emerged regarding the Strait of Hormuz, with Iran reportedly considering restrictions on vessels linked to countries it considers hostile. Any such measures could increase pressure on one of the world’s most important maritime routes for oil and energy shipments.
The situation around Hormuz has raised international concerns because prolonged disruption to the waterway could affect global oil supplies, shipping and energy markets.
In Yemen, Iranian-backed Houthi forces reportedly launched another attack on the government-held Red Sea port city of Mocha, marking a second reported attack on the coastal city in less than 24 hours.
A Houthi military source said the operation targeted weapons depots and Saudi military positions. Yemen’s armed forces, however, said residential areas were targeted with ballistic missiles and drones and reported that air-defense systems intercepted some of the drones.
The reported escalation around Mocha is adding to concerns over the security of Red Sea shipping routes and the possibility of renewed instability in Yemen.
The latest developments in Gaza, around the Strait of Hormuz and in Yemen underscore the growing interconnectedness of conflicts across the Middle East, with military confrontations and diplomatic disputes continuing to threaten regional stability as well as key international trade and energy routes.
