Israel rejects Trump's Gaza plan, demands Hamas disarm first

Israel rejected the 15-point Gaza peace plan proposed by Donald Trump’s Board of Peace, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told his Cabinet on Sunday. The plan called for a phased Israeli troop withdrawal from Gaza alongside Hamas disarmament, but Netanyahu made clear Israel would not retreat until Hamas surrenders all weapons first. Hamas, in turn, has insisted it will only disarm after Israel completes a full withdrawal and ends all hostilities. Trump has repeatedly touted the plan as a historic breakthrough, but Netanyahu’s outright rejection underscores the deep divide between Washington and Jerusalem on how to end the conflict.

The rejection comes as U.S.-Israel tensions over Iran rise. Earlier Sunday, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said no negotiations are underway with Washington after Tehran laid out sweeping demands to reopen the Strait of Hormuz. Mohammad Bagher Zolghadr, secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, said Iran will not reopen the key shipping route “until America corrects its behavior.” Among the conditions: the U.S. must lift sanctions, unfreeze Iranian assets, withdraw its naval blockade, pay reparations for past conflicts, and permanently cease hostilities against Iran and its allies. The U.S. has not publicly responded, and officials have previously ruled out immediate payments to Iran during earlier talks.

In domestic news, Todd Blanche was confirmed as U.S. attorney general early Saturday in a razor-thin, party-line vote of 50-49. Only two Republican senators—Susan Collins of Maine and Lisa Murkowski of Alaska—opposed him. The confirmation came after a late-night Senate session ran past 4 a.m., just before a planned recess. Several holdout Republicans, including Sens. Bill Cassidy of Louisiana, John Cornyn of Texas, and Thom Tillis of North Carolina, ultimately voted yes after receiving assurances, including a pledge to rescind a $1.8 billion anti-weaponization fund. Legal experts note the fund could still be revived through a loophole.

Meanwhile, Michigan Democrats got a boost as Senate nominee Abdul El-Sayed said he spoke with Barack Obama following his primary win last week. El-Sayed told NBC News’ “Meet the Press” the conversation was “warm and inspiring,” and he hopes Obama will campaign with him this fall. “I know he knows the critical role Michigan will play in holding Trump accountable and winning back the Senate,” El-Sayed said. On the Republican side, Sen. Jim Banks of Indiana told NBC News that he expects to join Trump on the campaign trail in the coming weeks.