Netanyahu acknowledges disagreements with Trump over Hamas deal

JERUSALEM — Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he has differences with U.S. President Donald Trump over a recently announced agreement with Hamas, telling a press conference that he would not hide the disagreements over the latest deal. Netanyahu stressed that Hamas must be disarmed before Gaza moves into a reconstruction phase, and noted that some have described any forced departure from Gaza as a war crime or ethnic cleansing. Trump announced on Friday that the Board of Peace had reached a historic agreement envisioning the full disarmament of Hamas and other armed groups. The deal, according to Trump, provides for Gaza to come under a new Palestinian government and for Israeli security to be ensured. Israel intensified military operations in Gaza on Friday in response to Hamas's disarmament announcement. Netanyahu's office said Hamas must take concrete steps, noting that weapons are to be transferred to a Palestinian committee being established to oversee their handover. No further details on the committee or the timeline for disarmament were immediately available.