Netanyahu rejects Gaza plan, in new break from Trump

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday rejected a US-led Gaza plan endorsed by Hamas, taking fresh distance from President Donald Trump as he faces razor-tight elections.

After more than a week of gradually escalating criticism of the plan, Netanyahu explicitly opposed it in the face of pushback from his right-wing base.

"Israel rejects the 15-point document," Netanyahu said, referring to a plan signed off on by Hamas in late July.

The Israeli military "will not carry out any withdrawal until Hamas is genuinely disarmed and will continue to thwart threats against our forces and our citizens," Netanyahu said at a cabinet meeting.

Netanyahu described Trump, with whom he has also had a growing break on Iran, as "our greatest friend in the White House" -- but quickly made clear he was willing to challenge him.

He said Israel was raising its objections to the Gaza plan with the United States.

"They have ideas; some of them are acceptable to us and some are not, and we know how to stand our ground on these matters," he said.

Netanyahu until recently campaigned on the strength of his relationship with Trump, who since his first term has taken unprecedented steps to back Israel, including moving the US embassy to Jerusalem.

Trump joined Netanyahu in late February in attacking Iran. But the two diverged when Trump sought a ceasefire with Iran in April as the war sapped his popularity at home and sent oil prices soaring. AFP