Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has explicitly ruled out an Israeli withdrawal from Gaza, insisting that the disarmament of Hamas must be the primary condition for any truce. Addressing the current status of ceasefire negotiations in a video posted to social media, Netanyahu rejected a draft proposal submitted by the Trump administration, stating clearly that it does not align with Israel's position.
The current impasse centers on a stalled October ceasefire agreement, which initially aimed to end major military operations and secure the release of remaining hostages held in Gaza. Under that framework, the plan called for Hamas to begin disarming while Israel would halt its strikes and initiate a withdrawal from the approximately 60% of the territory it currently occupies. The agreement also envisioned the deployment of an International Stabilization Force and the establishment of an independent Palestinian administration to manage governance and reconstruction.
Netanyahu, who is navigating a challenging reelection campaign ahead of October, emphasized that Israeli forces will continue to take all actions necessary to defend the nation's territory and its citizens. Regarding the US-backed proposal, the Prime Minister noted that his government has provided formal comments on the draft, asserting that they are standing firm on their security interests. He stated that while the US team believes they can secure the demilitarization of Gaza, Israel remains cautious and maintains its own defined position.
Both sides in the conflict continue to trade accusations of violating the truce. Israel contends that any progress is entirely dependent on Hamas relinquishing its arsenal, whereas Hamas maintains that Israel must cease its military strikes and begin a full withdrawal from the territory.
