In a significant development, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has rejected the 15-point peace plan proposed by US President Donald Trump for Gaza. The rejection comes as Israel maintains its military presence in Gaza until Hamas is "genuinely" disarmed. The plan, which was announced last September and includes the creation of a Board of Peace to oversee implementation, disarmament of Hamas, withdrawal of Israeli troops, and reconstruction of Gaza, has hit a roadblock due to Netanyahu's stance. The Israeli leader made his position clear during a cabinet meeting on Sunday, stating that any military pull-out would be contingent upon real disarmament by Hamas. This rejection signals another setback for Trump's peace plan, which aims to establish lasting peace and security in the region. The Israeli Prime Minister's statement reflects his unease with the plan but his reluctance to alienate his closest ally, the US. With Israel's elections just months away and pressure from members of his right-wing coalition to take a tough stance on Gaza, Netanyahu is unlikely to make concessions. Nickolay Mladenov, a senior diplomat tasked with implementing Trump's peace plan, has defended the plan, stating that discussions are ongoing in the hope of a "positive outcome." The board's high representative for Gaza emphasized the need for Israel to give the process a chance and stated that the plan is "the only way forward" to prevent a repeat of the 2023 attack by Hamas. The United Nations estimates that about 1.9 million people, or 90% of Gaza's population, have been displaced in the territory since the war began in 2023, triggered by a Hamas-led attack on southern Israel.