Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu addressed developments in Gaza, Lebanon and Iran at the start of Sunday's Cabinet meeting, rejecting reports that Israel was withdrawing on the various fronts. Netanyahu said Israel rejected the "15-point document" and that the Israel Defense Forces would not withdraw from the Gaza Strip until Hamas was fully disarmed.
Addressing the Gaza Strip, the prime minister said, "Israel rejects the 15-point document. The IDF will not carry out any withdrawal until Hamas is disarmed." He said Israel's demand covered all of the terrorist organization's weapons: "When I say Hamas must be disarmed, that means the heavy weapons, the lighter weapons, all the weapons. We are talking about genuine disarmament, not sham disarmament."
Netanyahu said that talks with the US administration were underway on the issue. "We are now talking with the Americans about this. They have ideas, some of which are acceptable to us and some of which are not, and we know how to hold our ground on these issues," he said. He added that the IDF "will continue to thwart threats against our forces and our citizens."
