Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Tuesday that Israel will not withdraw from its current lines in Gaza until Hamas has completely disarmed (claim:1), pushing back on a recent deal announced by US President Donald Trump (claim:2).
The US-backed agreement to disarm Hamas called for Hamas to begin disarming and for Israel to halt its strikes and begin withdrawing from the roughly 60% of Gaza it currently controls (claim:3). The agreement was based on an October ceasefire agreement that ended major military operations and brought about the release of the remaining hostages held in Gaza but has stalled on other fronts (claim:4).
Netanyahu reiterated his stance that disarmament should come first (claim:6). He said Israeli forces would continue to "do whatever is necessary to protect themselves, our territory, and our citizens" (claim:7).
It is not our draft. We sent our comments. This is our position.
Netanyahu's remarks marked a rare public display of friction with the Trump administration (claim:16). He again ruled out a troop withdrawal from the Gaza Strip (claim:17).
"We stand firm on our interests, I believe both wisely and firmly," (claim:9) Netanyahu said, adding that his comments were sent before receiving any media campaign on the matter (claim:18).
The US-backed ceasefire agreement last October called for Hamas to be disarmed and for Israel to withdraw (claim:10). An International Stabilization Force was to be deployed (claim:11), and an independent Palestinian administration was to oversee governance and reconstruction (claim:12).
Israel says everything hinges on Hamas giving up its weapons, while Hamas says Israel must end its strikes and begin withdrawing from the territory (claim:13). Each side accuses the other of violating the truce (claim:14).
The deal to disarm Hamas was seen as a potential breakthrough for ending the war (claim:15). Netanyahu faces a tough battle for reelection in October (claim:5), and his rejection of the withdrawal without disarmament underscores the ongoing deadlock.
