As US President Donald Trump grapples with maintaining a fragile Gaza ceasefire, Israel has firmly rejected any negotiations with Hamas that aim to establish a Palestinian state. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, meeting with US Vice President JD Vance on Thursday, dismissed the US-led diplomatic efforts as an ‘implementation process’ rather than peace talks. Netanyahu argued that Palestinian statehood would reward Hamas for initiating the Gaza war, which began on October 7, 2023, when Hamas militants killed approximately 1,200 Israelis in southern Israel. An official in Tel Aviv noted that discussing the ‘two-state solution’ could jeopardize Netanyahu’s political future, as his government’s success hinges on ending Hamas and securing Arab nations to police Gaza, not on creating a Palestinian state. Netanyahu’s far-right coalition is also wary of US pressure to compromise with Palestinians, fearing it could lead to statehood. Meanwhile, Trump’s 21-point plan to end the Gaza war faces challenges as violence persists in the region. If the ceasefire collapses, it could undermine Trump’s self-proclaimed image as a peacemaker. Vance emphasized disarming Hamas and forming an international stabilization force but avoided discussing Palestinian statehood. Netanyahu’s political troubles are mounting, with his own cabinet members pushing for West Bank annexation, a move Netanyahu has long supported. The current Israeli-Hamas agreement is limited to the ceasefire, with no plans for a broader resolution. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who replaced Vance in Israel, reaffirmed America’s commitment to Israel’s security, while Jared Kushner and Steve Witcoff sought reconstruction funding from Gulf Arab states.