Netanyahu’s statement does not come as a surprise.
But he has taken some time to make it, perhaps reflecting the difficult position the Israeli leader is in.
He clearly is unhappy with Trump’s plan but at the same time he will not want to upset his closest ally.
It’s just over a week since Trump announced what he called a “monumental step toward lasting peace and security” – that Hamas for the first time had agreed to disarm, on condition that Israel withdraws its forces from Gaza.
On Sunday, Netanyahu was clear that was not going to happen under his watch. He said Hamas had to disarm first, adding that it couldn’t be some “fictitious disarmament” – it had to be real.
The reality is any disarmament and withdrawal of Israeli forces would likely need to be phased.
Netanyahu said he was now in discussion with US officials about how to go 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 said.
But just months before Israeli elections and under pressure from members of his right-wing coalition to take a tough stance on Gaza, he is unlikely to want to make concessions.
He has faced calls from far-right parts of the coalition to hold a new cabinet vote and end the Gaza plan, including National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir who dismissed the draft as “not acceptable”.
