Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Tuesday that the United States had sent Israel a draft proposal concerning the Gaza Strip, but that his government had not approved it and had submitted comments on the plan.
Netanyahu said US President Donald Trump and his team believed Hamas could be disarmed and Gaza turned into a demilitarised territory, adding that the Israeli government was assessing the proposal.
“We are directing the military to do everything necessary to defend itself, our citizens and our territory,” Netanyahu said, amid reports that Washington was pressuring Israel to freeze military operations in Gaza.
He said Israel remained determined to protect its security interests and would not withdraw from its current positions in the Gaza Strip until Hamas had been fully disarmed.
On Monday, the Trump-led Peace Council said Israel would not withdraw beyond the so-called yellow line in Gaza until Hamas had completely surrendered its weapons.
The announcement followed a meeting between the council and Netanyahu.
Israel also said on Monday that it had conveyed its concerns to the United States over a proposed plan to end the war in Gaza, which Trump had publicly praised.