Netanyahu rejects Gaza withdrawal
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu rejects a Gaza plan praised by US President Donald Trump.
Hamas urges Washington to put pressure on Israel.
Netanyahu says he will not promise any withdrawal from Gaza until Hamas has “really” disarmed, and rejects the document presented by Donald Trump’s peace council – the so-called “Board of peace”.
– Israel rejects the 15-point document. The IDF (military) will not carry out any withdrawal until Hamas has truly disarmed and will continue to repel threats against our forces and our citizens, Netanyahu says at a government meeting.
Pressured for elections
The announcement comes after the prime minister, who according to opinion polls faces a tough election in October, was pressured by his far-right allies to abandon the Gaza plan.
According to the document, Hamas will hand over its weapons to a new Palestinian governing body. In connection with the disarmament, Israel will begin withdrawing its forces from Gaza.
On Monday, however, the Peace Council clarified that Israeli forces are expected to withdraw behind the so-called Yellow Line, the border that separates the area controlled by Israeli forces in the Gaza Strip, only after the disarmament of Hamas is completed.
“They have ideas”
Netanyahu says that Israel is talking to the US about its objections.
– They have ideas, some of them are acceptable to us and some are not, he says.
At the same time, Netanyahu promises to prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons – a goal that he has long claimed that Tehran is pursuing – regardless of how diplomacy with Washington and the Arab states develops.
Now the US must put pressure on Israel, says Hamas' reaction.
- We expect the mediators and guarantors, the US, to pressure Netanyahu and his government to stick to the plan and not obstruct the process for reasons related to domestic politics and the election campaign, says Bassem Naim, who is part of the Hamas politburo, to AFP.
Inga kommentarer:
Skicka en kommentar