VIDEO SHOWS: ISRAELI PRIME MINISTER BENJAMIN NETANYAHU SAYS ISRAEL WILL NOT WITHDRAW FROM ITS 'LINES' BEFORE HAMAS IS COMPLETELY DISARMED

STORY: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Tuesday (August 4) released a video statement regarding a Gaza deal that U.S. President Donald Trump is promoting. In his video, Netanyahu said that Israel "Will not withdraw from our current lines until Hamas is completely disarmed," adding that the deal is still a draft to which he did not yet agree. Trump declared last Thursday "a major milestone" toward implementing the Gaza peace plan agreed to in October, saying that Hamas would disarm and Israel would withdraw in phases. Complications have swiftly emerged. Israel's defense minister said on Sunday (August 2) that Israeli troops in Gaza would not move before Hamas disarms and its tunnels are destroyed. Hamas insists that Israel halt attacks before it begins implementing the part of the agreement dealing with its arms. Nikolay Mladenov, the Gaza envoy for Trump's Board of Peace, which is overseeing the ceasefire, had a "constructive and detailed" meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and other Israeli officials on Monday (August 3), the board said on X. (Editing, Production and Writing: Lianne Back)

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SHOWS: UNKNOWN LOCATION (RELEASED AUGUST 4, 2026) (BENJAMIN NETANYAHU VIA INSTAGRAM - No resale/ No archive/ Must on screen courtesy 'Benjamin Netanyahu via Instagram') (ORIGINALLY SHOT IN PORTRAIT)

1. (SOUNDBITE) (Hebrew) ISRAELI PRIME MINISTER BENJAMIN NETANYAHU SAYING (HEBREW SUBTITLES ADDED BY SOURCE): "I stand firm in defending our security interests. We will not withdraw from our current lines until Hamas is completely disarmed. That's one. Second, we have instructed IDF soldiers to do whatever is necessary to protect themselves, to defend our territory, and to protect our citizens. Third, President Trump and his team think they can bring Hamas to disarm and demilitarize Gaza. We are examining that. They sent us a draft. We did not agree to it, it wasn't our draft. We sent them our comments. Incidentally, we sent our comments before the media campaign on the issue. That is our position. We stand firm in defending our interests, both wisely and resolutely, I think."