Netanyahu’s Rejection of Trump’s Gaza Roadmap: Power, Not Security, Drives His Hard Line

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(SeaPRwire) –   By: Julian Holbrooke

Netanyahu’s rejection of the US-backed Gaza disarmament roadmap isn’t about protecting Israeli citizens. It’s a naked play to shore up his far-right coalition ahead of October’s re-election bid. For three years, he’s failed to defeat Hamas. Now, clinging to power, he’s weaponizing the Gaza conflict to appear tough, even if it prolongs suffering for millions of Palestinians and risks US diplomatic credibility.

Officially, Netanyahu told his cabinet Israel rejects the 15-point document. He claims the IDF won’t withdraw until Hamas is “genuinely disarmed.” But the subtext is far clearer. His far-right coalition allies had already voiced fury. Orit Strock, a minister in his government, called the roadmap a “bloodshed map” in a pre-cabinet radio interview. Bezalel Smotrich, leader of her party, praised Netanyahu’s “clarification” within hours. This isn’t about protecting Israeli security. It’s about keeping his fragile government from collapsing before voters go to the polls in October. Last October’s ceasefire led to no real diplomatic progress. The IDF has advanced beyond armistice lines, squeezing Hamas into a smaller enclave while 2 million Palestinians remain crammed into the territory.

The Board of Peace’s roadmap, published July 30 and touted by Trump as an “historic milestone,” calls for Hamas to disarm first, then Israeli withdrawal. But Hamas has only given hedged consent. It says it’ll hand over heavy weapons to a proposed new Gaza administration, but only if Israel pulls out and a Palestinian state is formed. Trump’s original plan envisioned full Israeli withdrawal after stabilization. Netanyahu has flipped that script entirely. He’s ignored US pressure, even as the US Embassy in Jerusalem stays silent. The pause in July’s deadly airstrikes— which targeted Hamas commanders but killed dozens of civilians—after Board of Peace envoy Nickolay Mladenov’s visit was a fleeting gesture. The UAE-funded tent city in a Hamas-cleared area is window dressing, not a step toward lasting peace.

The geopolitical pendulum in the Middle East is shifting. Netanyahu is no longer just following US lead. He’s using the Gaza crisis to dictate terms, knowing Trump’s desire for a “win” won’t override his own political survival. The roadmap is dead in the water. Gaza’s suffering will continue until after Israel’s election, and even then, a lasting peace remains out of reach.

Author bio: Julian Holbrooke, an overseas international relations analyst contributing to major European dailies, focuses on Middle East geopolitical power dynamics.