Kathmandu— United States President Donald Trump has affirmed a “very good” relationship with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu following Netanyahu’s explicit dismissal of a 15-point peace plan for Gaza drafted by the US-led Board of Peace. The rejection comes after weeks of escalating criticism and signals a growing policy divergence between Washington and Tel Aviv regarding the future of the Israel-Palestine conflict, which reignited in October 2023. Trump initially announced a breakthrough ceasefire framework late last month, claiming Hamas had accepted a phased plan to disarm in exchange for an Israeli troop withdrawal; Netanyahu formally asserted his refusal to endorse the proposal on Sunday.

Netanyahu's Formal Rejection

After acknowledging receipt of the draft plan from the Trump administration on July 31, Netanyahu publicly opposed the Gaza plan on Sunday. He stated that the Israeli army “will not carry out any withdrawal until Hamas is genuinely disarmed” and vowed to continue thwarting threats against Israeli forces and citizens. Furthermore, he reiterated his long-standing position against Palestinian statehood, stating, “no Palestinian state will arise as long as I am prime minister.”

The rejection follows pressure from within Netanyahu’s right-wing base and cabinet members who urged him to abandon the plan, which called for a simultaneous Israeli withdrawal and Hamas disarmament.

US Response and Plan Status

A Board of Peace official stated on Monday that the Gaza plan remains operative, emphasizing its reliance on verifiable implementation. “The process is based on implementation and verification on the ground,” the official told Reuters. “Discussions with Israel are continuing, and the framework is designed so that each stage only moves forward once the required commitments have been met.” The roadmap for peace exists between the Board of Peace and Hamas, with ongoing discussions with Israel.

Al Jazeera reached out to both the White House and US Department of State for comment on Netanyahu’s remarks but had not received a response as of the time of reporting.

Growing Policy Rift

Reporting from Washington, DC, Al Jazeera’s Patty Culhane described Netanyahu's actions as a “very dangerous game” with Trump. She noted that Israel is becoming increasingly unpopular within the United States, particularly among the Democratic Party, which she said is “very much sliding towards the Palestinian cause.” This shift in US political sentiment adds another layer of complexity to the already strained relationship between the two countries.

Discussions between the Board of Peace and Israel are ongoing, though a clear path forward remains uncertain following Netanyahu’s firm rejection of the proposed Gaza peace plan.

(With inputs from Al Jazeera)

Originally published on abcnews.com.np.