BBC:
A senior Israeli official has said troops will not pull back from their current positions in Gaza without the “genuine disarmament” of Palestinian armed group Hamas in the territory.
Hamas meanwhile said handing over its heavy weapons was contingent on Israel ending “all forms of aggression” and withdrawing its forces from Gaza.
It comes after Donald Trump said the Board of Peace had reached an agreement for the “complete disarmament” of Hamas and other armed groups in Gaza.
On Friday Trump insisted that Israel was “very happy” with the proposed agreement, describing it as a “big step for the Middle East”. However far-right Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir dismissed the draft as “not acceptable”.
It is part of the second phase of a US-brokered Gaza ceasefire plan that aims to end the war in Gaza.
The 20-point plan, unveiled in September last year, included the creation of the Board of Peace to oversee the agreement’s implementation, as well as the disarmament of Hamas, withdrawal of Israeli troops and reconstruction of Gaza.
Speaking at a cabinet meeting at Camp David on Friday, Trump said he had an “understanding” with Israel over the latest disarmament proposal agreed with Hamas, adding that “Israel’s very happy about it”.
Asked whether Hamas would disarm before Israeli forces withdrew from Gaza or vice versa, Trump did not answer directly but said Gaza remained “a very complex situation”.
Hamas weapons would be handed over to the Board of Peace, he added.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has not yet commented on the latest proposal.
