(AP) – Israel has rejected a proposed Gaza deal announced by President Donald Trump, drawing a clear line in the sand: Israel will not pull back until Hamas is genuinely disarmed. At a Cabinet meeting, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu dismissed what he called the “15-point document,” emphasizing that Israel’s military will not carry out any withdrawal until Hamas is disarmed in reality—not in promises.
Netanyahu also said Israel is still discussing plans for Gaza with Washington, suggesting negotiations continue even as the current proposal has been rejected outright. A fragile ceasefire is still holding, but Israeli control remains heavy across the Palestinian enclave—about half of the territory—after a war that has devastated large parts of Gaza. Hamas, for its part, insists the “road map” remains the path forward and expects mediators—and the United States—to pressure Netanyahu.
But tensions between Israel and Hamas remain unresolved, and now it’s the Trump administration’s challenge to manage. The administration backed the peace framework and helped build momentum around it, but its closest regional ally says the plan has not yet met Prime Minister Netanyahu’s core demand: that Hamas fully disarm before Israeli forces withdraw from Gaza.
Meanwhile, the Middle East security picture is growing more dangerous on multiple fronts. Iran has again reshuffled leadership at the top of its Supreme National Security Council, naming Mohsen Rezaei to replace Mohammad Bagher Zolghadr. This is part of a broader pattern of changes among Iran’s senior ranks as the country adjusts to losses during the war.
Iran’s posture toward the Strait of Hormuz also remains firm. Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi says negotiations with Oman over “new maritime routes” are in late stages, but he stressed that the strait does not automatically “reopen.” He pointed to conditions that, according to Iran, have been communicated through intermediaries.
Those conditions are sweeping: Iran is demanding that the United States correct its behavior, end hostilities, lift naval restrictions on Iranian ports, remove sanctions, withdraw U.S. forces from the region, and compensate Iran for war damage—while also unfreezing assets and ending threats.
In parallel, reports suggest Iran and Oman are working to finalize a temporary arrangement tied to managing the strait. The reported framework would allow ships to enter near Iran and exit near Oman without paying fees during the interim period. But key restrictions are emerging as well: a preliminary plan outlined by Iran’s security and parliamentary structures indicates that vessels connected to “hostile countries” would be barred unless Iran receives compensation for past harm.
And in Yemen, Iranian-backed Houthi forces struck a government-held port on the Red Sea coast. That escalation deepens fears about interference with strategic shipping lanes—exactly the kind of instability that threatens global commerce and reinforces the need for strong deterrence.
Bottom line: while diplomats talk, regional actors keep preparing for confrontation. Israel is refusing to move without real disarmament. Iran is demanding major concessions. And dangerous attacks around the Red Sea continue. In times like these, American leadership—and credible strength—are not optional.
FILE – President Donald Trump listens as Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu speaks at President Donald Trump’s Mar-a-Lago club, Dec. 29, 2025, in Palm Beach, Fla. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon, File)
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