- Netanyahu rejects Trump's 15-point Gaza peace plan.
- Israel demands complete Hamas weapons surrender before backing down.
- Hamas expressed readiness for US-backed plan, awaiting Israeli approval.
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 completely surrenders its weapons.
"Israel does not approve of this 15-point document. Until Hamas truly lays down its arms, the IDF will not back down and will continue to thwart threats to our forces and civilians," Netanyahu said at a cabinet meeting.
Hamas ready to proceed with US-backed plan
Earlier, Trump said that Hamas, which ruled Gaza for nearly two decades before carrying out the October 7, 2023, attack on Israel that triggered the Gaza war, had agreed to lay down its weapons.
Ready to move to the second phase of the agreement – Hamas
News agency AFP cited a Hamas official saying that Hamas and other factions had confirmed to mediators that they were ready to implement the agreement and move to the second phase, provided they received Israeli approval and Israel began implementing the agreement.
Muslim countries condemn Israel's military operation
A few days ago, the United Arab Emirates and seven other Muslim-majority countries issued a joint statement strongly criticising Israel's military operation in the Gaza Strip and alleging that its actions threatened to derail Trump's peace framework aimed at ending the conflict.