Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has rejected key elements of a United States-backed proposal aimed at advancing a ceasefire in Gaza, insisting that Israeli forces will not withdraw from territory they currently control until Hamas has fully disarmed.

Netanyahu’s comments, made on Tuesday, cast fresh uncertainty over diplomatic efforts to revive negotiations and highlighted a rare public disagreement between Israel and the administration of US President Donald Trump.

The proposed agreement, backed by Washington, sought to build on a ceasefire framework reached last October. Under the draft plan, Hamas would begin a process of disarmament while Israel would halt military strikes and start withdrawing from approximately 60% of Gaza currently under Israeli control. The proposal also envisioned the deployment of an international stabilization force and the establishment of an independent Palestinian administration to oversee governance and reconstruction in the territory.

Speaking in a video posted on social media, Netanyahu said Israel had received a draft proposal from the United States but had not accepted it.

“The Trump administration sent us a draft. We did not agree. It is not our draft. We sent our comments. This is our position,” Netanyahu said.

He added that Israel was examining whether Hamas could genuinely be persuaded to surrender its weapons but stressed that Israeli security interests would remain the government’s priority.

“We stand firm on our interests,” Netanyahu said, adding that Israeli forces would continue to take whatever measures they considered necessary to protect the country, its territory and its citizens.

The Israeli leader reiterated his long-standing position that Hamas must first disarm before any substantial Israeli military withdrawal from Gaza can take place.

The latest disagreement threatens to complicate international efforts to secure a lasting end to the conflict. The ceasefire reached last October halted large-scale military operations and led to the release of the remaining hostages held in Gaza. However, negotiations over implementing other parts of the agreement have since stalled.

The central dispute remains unchanged. Israel insists that Hamas must surrender its weapons and dismantle its military capabilities before any further concessions are made. Hamas, meanwhile, maintains that Israel must first stop its military operations and begin withdrawing its forces from Gaza before discussions on disarmament can proceed.

Both sides continue to accuse each other of violating the terms of the existing truce, making progress toward a broader agreement increasingly difficult.

Netanyahu’s remarks also come at a politically sensitive time as he prepares for a difficult re-election campaign ahead of Israel’s October elections. His government has consistently argued that eliminating Hamas as a military force remains a central objective of the war.

While the Trump administration continues to promote negotiations as a path toward ending the conflict, Netanyahu’s latest comments indicate that significant differences remain over the sequence of disarmament, military withdrawal and post-war governance, leaving the future of the proposed agreement uncertain.