Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has publicly rejected a US-brokered agreement on Gaza, stating Israel will not withdraw from territory it currently controls until Hamas is completely disarmed, marking a rare point of friction with the Trump administration.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu rejected a ceasefire proposal announced by US President Donald Trump, declaring that Israeli forces will maintain their positions in Gaza until Hamas surrenders all weapons. In a video posted on social media, Netanyahu stated the Trump administration's draft agreement did not represent Israel's position, saying "We did not agree. It is not our draft." He reiterated that disarmament must precede any Israeli withdrawal, adding that his military would continue operations "to protect themselves, our territory, and our citizens."
The rejected agreement was based on an earlier October ceasefire that paused major fighting and secured the release of remaining hostages. Under the Trump proposal, Hamas would begin disarming while Israel halted strikes and withdrew from approximately 60% of Gaza it currently occupies. The divergence in positions reflects a fundamental disagreement: Netanyahu insists Hamas must disarm first, while Hamas maintains Israel must cease operations and begin withdrawing before any disarmament occurs.
Meanwhile, Palestinians held a mass funeral for over 100 bodies recovered from a devastating 2023 Israeli strike on Gaza City's Sabra neighborhood. The November 2023 bombing killed more than 300 people but only around 40 bodies were initially recovered. Civil Defence officials recently excavated 112 additional remains, including 40 children, from beneath the rubble. According to the Civil Defence, 157 bodies remain unaccounted for, with relatives reporting approximately 7,400 people still missing beneath debris across Gaza.
Since the ceasefire took effect, at least 1,252 people have been killed in Gaza, according to the territory's Health Ministry. The broader conflict has claimed over 73,377 Palestinian lives according to Gaza's Health Ministry, while the October 7, 2023 Hamas attack killed around 1,200 Israelis and resulted in 251 hostages. Five Israeli soldiers have been killed since the ceasefire began. Gaza remains severely devastated, with most of its 2 million Palestinians displaced and living in tent camps facing disease outbreaks and poor conditions.
