Benjamin Netanyahu Rejects Trumps Gaza Peace Plan

The Israeli prime minister said his country’s troops will not withdraw from the region until Hamas has “genuinely” disarmed.

His comments are a major blow for Trump’s hopes of ending the conflict.

The US president’s Board of Peace announced last month it had reached an agreement for the “complete disarmament” of Hamas and other armed groups in Gaza.

But Hamas said that was contingent on Israel ending “all forms of aggression” and withdrawing its forces from Gaza.

Speaking on Sunday, Netanyahu said: “Israel rejects the 15-point document.”

“The Israel Defense Forces will not carry out any withdrawal until the dismantling of Hamas and its weapons,” he said.

“And when I say dismantling Hamas and its weapons, that means heavy weaponry, less heavy weaponry and smaller arms. All weaponry.

“We’re talking about a true dismantling and not a fictitious dismantling.”

Trump first announced his peace plan for Gaza last September.

Listen to Commons People, the podcast that makes politics easy. Every week, Kevin Schofield and Kate Nicholson unpack the week’s biggest stories to keep you informed. Join us for straightforward analysis of what’s going on at Westminster.