Israel rejects Trump's 15-point plan for Gaza, Netanyahu says
Israel's PM says its military will not pull-out from Gaza until Hamas is "genuinely" disarmed.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel has announced his country's rejection of U.S. President Donald Trump's 15-point proposal for Gaza. Netanyahu stated that Israeli forces would not withdraw until Hamas is "genuinely" disarmed.
Last month, Trump's Board of Peace indicated that an agreement had been reached for the "complete disarmament" of Hamas and other armed factions in Gaza. However, Hamas countered that the surrender of its heavy weaponry was conditional upon Israel ceasing "all forms of aggression" and pulling its forces out of Gaza.
Since an initial ceasefire was agreed upon in Gaza last October, Israel has persisted with strikes in the territory.
During a cabinet meeting on Sunday, Netanyahu declared, "Israel rejects the 15-point document." He further asserted that the Israeli military "will not carry out any withdrawal until Hamas is genuinely disarmed and will continue to thwart threats against our forces and our citizens."
**Details of the Gaza Peace Deal Roadmap**
Last month, Trump hailed "a monumental step toward lasting peace and security" after Hamas reportedly accepted a disarmament plan for Gaza. Yet, Netanyahu insisted that Hamas must disarm before Israel withdraws its forces from Gaza, emphasizing that it could not be a "fictitious disarmament."
Netanyahu confirmed he is currently in discussions with U.S. officials regarding the path forward. "They have ideas; some of them are acceptable to us and some are not, and we know how to stand our ground on these matters," he remarked.
With Israeli elections just months away, the prime minister is unlikely to be inclined to make concessions. He has faced pressure from his far-right allies, including National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir, who deemed the draft "not acceptable," to hold a new cabinet vote and terminate the Gaza plan.
This marks another setback for Trump's Gaza peace plan, which was unveiled in September of last year. The plan encompassed the establishment of the Board of Peace to oversee the agreement's execution, along with the disarmament of Hamas, the withdrawal of Israeli troops, and the reconstruction of Gaza.
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