Netanyahu says Israel not to withdraw from current Gaza posi

JERUSALEM, Aug. 4 (Xinhua) -- Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Tuesday the country will not withdraw its forces from their current positions in Gaza until Hamas is fully disarmed.

"We are instructing IDF (Israel Defense Forces) soldiers to do whatever is necessary to protect themselves, our territory and our citizens," Netanyahu said in a video released on social media.

Regarding the deal U.S. President Donald Trump said Thursday the so-called "Board of Peace" had reached for the "complete disarmament" of Hamas and other armed groups in Gaza, Netanyahu said that the White House "sent us a draft," but "we did not agree to it."

"It is not our draft. We sent our comments," he said.

A day after Trump's announcement of the deal, Hamas said it had agreed to the "latest version of the roadmap" for the second phase of the Gaza ceasefire agreement after "fierce" negotiations, but conditioned weaponry arrangements on a complete halt to "aggression," Israeli withdrawal from the enclave, and progress on reconstruction.

Over the weekend, Israeli strikes reportedly killed dozens of people, including children and other civilians, across Gaza, prompting Qatar, Egypt and Türkiye, mediators in the Gaza ceasefire talks, to issue a joint condemnation on Monday.