Israel has flatly rejected the draft Hamas disarmament agreement unveiled by U.S. President Donald Trump, calling it incompatible with the country's security demands. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office said Israel cannot approve the deal because it fails to meet the nation's requirements, while National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir called the draft "unacceptable for Israel" in a social media post Friday.
Ben-Gvir argued that committing to halt targeted killings of militants amounts to consenting to Hamas organizing another massacre, adding that "eliminations in Gaza must continue, encouragement of immigration must take place, and Israel must win". The sharp rebuke follows Trump's announcement overnight of a framework for the gradual disarmament of Hamas and other armed groups, after mediation by Egypt, Qatar, and Turkey.
Hamas negotiator Ghazi Hamad told AFP that disarmament would be handled exclusively by a committee established under Trump's 20-point plan, and told Al Jazeera the group would "not take a single step unless we are sure Israel also meets its obligations." Israeli forces currently occupy nearly 70 percent of the Gaza Strip, according to Hamas.