- Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated that Israel will not withdraw from its current lines in Gaza until Hamas has completely disarmed, pushing back on a recent deal announced by U.S. President Donald Trump.
- This statement marked a rare public display of friction with the Trump administration regarding the peace plan.
- The agreement proposed by the Trump administration called for Hamas to begin disarming and for Israel to halt its strikes and withdraw from the roughly 60% of Gaza it currently controls.
- Netanyahu reiterated that disarmament should come first, stating that Israeli forces would continue to protect themselves and their territory.
- Netanyahu emphasized that the Trump administration sent a draft of the agreement, which Israel did not agree to, stating, “This is our position”.
- Netanyahu's remarks cast doubt on the deal to disarm Hamas, which was seen as a potential breakthrough for ending the war.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared on Tuesday that Israel will not withdraw from Gaza until Hamas is fully disarmed, marking a significant divergence from President Trump's recent peace proposal. The agreement suggested a ceasefire, with Hamas disarming and Israel halting strikes while withdrawing from 60% of Gaza.13
Netanyahu's comments reflect his ongoing commitment to national security, stating, “Israeli forces would continue to do whatever is necessary to protect themselves, our territory, and our citizens.” This stance comes amid a challenging political landscape for Netanyahu, who is facing reelection in October.45
The friction with the Trump administration is notable, as Netanyahu remarked, “The Trump administration sent us a draft. We did not agree. It is not our draft.” The U.S.-backed ceasefire agreement from last October aimed to establish an International Stabilization Force and an independent Palestinian administration for governance and reconstruction.
As violence escalates, the humanitarian toll is severe, with Gaza's Health Ministry reporting over 73,377 Palestinian deaths since the conflict intensified, including 1,252 fatalities since the ceasefire began. The ongoing conflict has seen accusations of truce violations from both sides, complicating the path to peace.
Netanyahu's remarks cast doubt on the potential breakthrough the disarmament deal represented, as both Israel and Hamas continue to blame each other for the ongoing violence and instability.7
“The U.S.-backed ceasefire deal last October called for Hamas to disarm, Israel to withdraw from roughly 60% of Gaza, an International Stabilization Force and an independent Palestinian administration to oversee reconstruction. Netanyahu's remarks marked a rare public display of friction with the Trump administration, saying: “We did not agree... This is our position.””
AP News
