Israel rejects Trump's Gaza plan, says no withdrawal until Hamas disarmed

Israel’s prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, reiterated on Thursday that the Israeli Defence Forces will not withdraw from the Gaza Strip until Hamas is “genuinely” disarmed, emphasizing that any pull‑out must be contingent on a verifiable end to the militant group’s capabilities. The statement came during a press briefing in Jerusalem, where Netanyahu responded to mounting international calls for a cease‑fire and a phased Israeli exit from the enclave.

Netanyahu’s position follows weeks of intensive ground and air operations that have devastated Gaza’s infrastructure and resulted in high civilian casualties, according to United Nations estimates. While diplomatic efforts by the United States and Qatar continue to explore a negotiated settlement, Israeli officials maintain that security guarantees must precede any troop reduction. The prime minister’s remarks underscore Israel’s insistence that a permanent cessation of hostilities hinges on the dismantling of Hamas’s military apparatus, a condition that, he said, remains non‑negotiable.