Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has rejected Donald Trump's 15-point plan for Gaza, saying Israel will not pull out until Hamas is 'genuinely' disarmed.
Cabinet statement
At a cabinet meeting on Sunday, Netanyahu said the military will 'continue to thwart threats against our forces and our citizens'. He told ministers: 'Israel rejects the 15-point plan. The IDF will not carry out any withdrawal until the dismantling of Hamas and its weapons.'
Netanyahu clarified that dismantling includes 'heavy weaponry, less heavy weaponry and smaller arms. All weaponry.' He stressed, 'We're talking about a true dismantling not a fictious dismantling.'
Background
The US President's Board of Peace claimed last month it had reached an agreement for the 'complete disarmament' of Hamas and other armed groups in Gaza. However, Hamas insisted it would not hand over its heavy weapons until Israel ended 'all forms of aggression' and withdrew its forces.
Israel has continued to strike Gaza since agreeing to an initial ceasefire last October.
Impact
Netanyahu's rejection is a blow to Trump, who announced a 'monumental step toward lasting peace and security' when he said Hamas had accepted the disarmament plan. The plan had already faced criticism from Netanyahu's far-right allies, including National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir, who dismissed the draft as 'not acceptable'.
Netanyahu is under pressure to take a hardline approach with national elections scheduled for October.
