Netanyahu: We have not yet approved the Gaza plan

Occupied Jerusalem – Agencies: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced that Israel has not yet approved the US plan to end the war in Gaza, despite receiving assurances that the occupation forces’ withdrawal from the Strip would not begin until Hamas is completely disarmed. On Friday, the movement announced its agreement to hand over its weapons as part of the second phase of Trump’s peace plan for the Strip, while the Peace Council, chaired by the US president, published a roadmap outlining the gradual disarmament of Hamas and a “gradual Israeli withdrawal.” However, the council later reaffirmed to Netanyahu that Israel’s withdrawal from Gaza would not commence until Hamas is fully disarmed. In a video posted late Tuesday night on his social media accounts, Netanyahu said the Trump team “believes it can disarm Hamas and strip Gaza of its weapons. We are considering this possibility. They sent us a draft proposal that we have not approved; this is not our draft proposal. We conveyed our comments to them.” Netanyahu, who is seeking re-election in the upcoming legislative polls in October, faces pressure from his far-right allies within his governing coalition, who have criticized the agreement and called for a cabinet vote to reject it.