Israel Rejects US Peace Plan for Gaza, Demands Hamas Disarmment

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that Israel has rejected US President Donald Trump's 15-point peace plan for Gaza and will not back down until Hamas fully disarms. At a cabinet meeting, Netanyahu said, "Israel does not approve this 15-point document. The IDF will not back down and will continue to thwart the threat to our forces and civilians until Hamas actually disarms." Hamas said yesterday that it was ready to move forward on the US-backed plan and urged Israel to apply pressure. Hamas told Trump's peace committee that it was with the latest phase of the plan, in which fighters would hand over weapons to the Palestine Governing Committee in the war-ravaged territory. A Hamas official told AFP on Saturday that Hamas and other factions had confirmed to mediators that they would implement the agreement and prepare for a second phase in seven days, provided they receive approval from the majority of Israelis and the United Arab Emirates.