Israeli troops to remain in Gaza until Hamas disarmed: Netanyahu

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said Israeli forces will remain in Gaza until Hamas is fully disarmed, reaffirming Israel’s position on the ongoing conflict.

In a video message posted on Facebook, Netanyahu said Israeli troops would not withdraw from their current positions in Gaza until Hamas was completely disarmed and the territory was demilitarised.

He also said US President Donald Trump and his team believe the objective of disarming Hamas and demilitarising Gaza is achievable, adding that Israel is examining the proposal.

Referring to ongoing negotiations, Netanyahu said Israel had rejected a draft proposal it received and instead submitted its own response before details of the talks became public.

His remarks were reported by the Times of Israel, citing the video statement. 

SKS