Netanyahu rejects US-backed Gaza plan, breaks with Trump over disarmament demand

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel’s military “will not carry out any withdrawal until Hamas is genuinely disarmed.” His statement directly rejects a US-backed ceasefire plan that Hamas had already accepted, marking a new public break with former President Donald Trump’s approach. The dispute centers on the core condition for any Israeli troop pullout from Gaza. Netanyahu insists that disarmament of Hamas must come first, while the US plan—now agreed to by Hamas—offers a staged withdrawal without that precondition. This is the latest sign of widening disagreement between the Israeli leader and the former US president, who had previously aligned closely on Middle East policy. Netanyahu’s refusal puts the ceasefire deal in jeopardy and raises new questions about the future of Gaza’s reconstruction and governance. No new talks have been announced since Netanyahu’s statement. The Israeli military has not commented further on its operational plans.