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Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has rejected US President Donald Trump’s 15-point plan for Gaza, stating that no military pull-out will happen until Hamas is “genuinely” disarmed.<\/b><\/p>\n
Trump’s Board of Peace said last month it had reached an agreement for the “complete disarmament” of Hamas and other armed groups in Gaza.<\/p>\n
But Hamas said handing over its heavy weapons was contingent on Israel ending “all forms of aggression” and withdrawing its forces from Gaza.<\/p>\n
On Sunday, a senior Board of Peace official insisted the US-backed peace plan for the territory remained the only way forward.<\/p>\n
Israel has continued to carry out strikes on Gaza since agreeing to an initial ceasefire in the territory last October.<\/p>\n
“Israel rejects the 15-point document,” Netanyahu said at a cabinet meeting on Sunday.<\/p>\n
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”, he added. <\/p>\n
A Hamas official told the BBC on Sunday the group “reaffirms it commitment” to the agreement and it was ready “to engage seriously and responsibly in implementing” the 15-point plan.<\/p>\n
They called on mediators to ensure “that all parties comply with what has been agreed”.<\/p>\n
Israel’s rejection signals another blow for Trump’s Gaza peace plan which was announced in September last year.<\/p>\n
The plan included the creation of the Board of Peace to oversee the agreement’s implementation, as well as the disarmament of Hamas, withdrawal of Israeli troops and reconstruction of Gaza.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n