Israel has rejected the latest US plan to move towards the next stage of peace in Gaza, demanding the full disarmament of Hamas before any Israeli forces withdraw.
Prime Minister’s Statement
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said at the beginning of a cabinet meeting Sunday, ‘Israel rejects the 15-point document.’ He stated that the Israeli military would ‘not withdraw at all until Hamas is genuinely disarmed and will continue to thwart threats against our forces and citizens.’ Netanyahu emphasized that ‘when I say disarm Hamas, that means heavy weapons, less-heavy weapons, all weapons. And we are talking about real disarmament, not a fictitious disarmament.’
At the end of July, US President Donald Trump announced what he described as a historic agreement to secure the disarmament of Hamas and all other armed groups in Gaza, months after the president first announced a US-brokered ceasefire agreement between Hamas and Israel.
Hamas said it would only go through with the deal if Israel halts strikes in Gaza and pulls troops back to the ‘yellow line,’ as defined by the October ceasefire agreement. Israeli forces currently occupy more than half of Gaza, in the east and south of the territory.
Original reporting: WESH Orlando — read the source article.
