Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has rejected a US-backed plan for Gaza, saying Israel will not withdraw its troops until Hamas is fully disarmed.
Netanyahu made the position clear during a cabinet meeting on Sunday, saying Israel could not accept the 15-point proposal in its current form.
He said Israeli forces would remain in Gaza until Hamas had surrendered its weapons and no longer posed a threat to Israeli soldiers and civilians.
The plan, which Hamas endorsed in late July, proposes that the group hand over its weapons to a new Palestinian governing body. It also calls for Israel to gradually withdraw its forces as the disarmament process takes place.
Israel, however, wants Hamas to be completely disarmed before any military withdrawal begins.
Netanyahu said Israel was continuing discussions with the United States over the areas of disagreement, adding that some of the proposals were acceptable while others were not.
“We are talking about real disarmament,” Netanyahu said, insisting that Hamas must give up all its weapons.
The Israeli leader is also facing pressure from far-right members of his government, who oppose the Gaza plan and have demanded further action against Hamas.
The disagreement comes as the US-led ceasefire initiative continues to face challenges, with questions remaining over how Hamas could be fully disarmed and how Israeli forces would eventually leave Gaza.
US President Donald Trump has backed the agreement, while the body overseeing its implementation has indicated that Israel would only withdraw after Hamas had been completely disarmed.
