Israel to step up pressure on Hamas

Gaza militant group must disband: PM

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Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu repeated a demand on Sunday for Hamas to disarm and for its leaders to leave Gaza as he promised to step up pressure on the group while continuing efforts to return hostages.

He said Israeli would implement US President Donald Trump’s “voluntary emigration plan” for Gaza, and said his cabinet had agreed to keep pressuring Hamas, which says it has agreed to a ceasefire pro posal from mediators Egypt and Qatar.

Senior Hamas official Sami Abu Zuhri said Mr Netanyahu’s comments were a recipe for “endless escalation” in the region.

Mr Netanyahu rejected assertions that Israel, which has resumed its bombardment of Gaza after a two-month truce and sent troops back into the enclave, was negotiating, saying “we are conducting it under fire, and therefore, it is effective.”