On Wednesday, Khaled Mashal, who led Hamas's so-called politburo for many years, told Qatar's Al Jazeera that the group opposes the demands for disarmament included in the US Gaza plan.
"There is no future for Hamas in the 20-point plan. The terror group will be disarmed and Gaza will be demilitarized," an Israeli official told AFP news agency on Thursday.
The White House peace plan is still in its first phase. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu claimed over the weekend that the time is soon for the second phase, which in addition to the disarmament of Hamas, which is labeled a terrorist organization, involves a further withdrawal of Israeli forces and the establishment of a transitional government.
However, Hamas is demanding increased pressure on Israel, which it accuses of repeated violations of the current ceasefire agreement, before a second phase begins. On Thursday, the Red Crescent reported that a woman was killed and five people were injured in Israeli artillery fire in Jabalia in northern Gaza, The Times of Israel reports.
US President Donald Trump plans to soon appoint an American general to lead the international stabilization force stipulated in the peace plan, the news site Axios reported on Thursday, citing sources.
