Netanyahu denies any pressure from Trump on operations in Lebanon and sets his conditions for rebuilding Gaza

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday rejected reports that the US president Donald Trump He reportedly sought to limit Israeli military operations in Lebanon. He also reiterated that no reconstruction of the Gaza Strip could take place until the enclave was demilitarized.

During his government's weekly meeting, Benjamin Netanyahu asserted that Israel's military decisions were made independently. "I heard in the media that President Trump had asked us not to intervene against the terrorist tunnels in Lebanon. That's a myth, false information. He didn't tell me anything about it, and I didn't ask him anything. We act according to our own criteria," he stated.

These statements contradict a previous report by the Israeli public broadcaster KAN, according to which Israel had provided US authorities with intelligence on alleged Hezbollah tunnels in southern Lebanon in order to obtain their approval before possible military operations.

According to Lebanese authorities, Israeli military operations conducted since March 2, 2026, have resulted in at least 4,303 deaths and 12,202 injuries, while displacing more than one million people. On June 26, Israel and Lebanon signed, under US mediation, a framework agreement aimed at ending the Israeli occupation of Lebanese territory.

Regarding the Gaza Strip, Benjamin Netanyahu stated that there would be "no reconstruction without the dismantling and demilitarization" of the Palestinian enclave. This position differs from the timeline outlined in the plan presented by Donald Trump, which stipulates that reconstruction and a gradual Israeli military withdrawal would proceed in parallel with the start of the disarmament of Palestinian factions.

According to information relayed by the daily newspaper Yedioth AhronothThe Prime Minister's statements come as the Peace Council established by Donald Trump is considering launching reconstruction projects in areas controlled by the Israeli army without conditioning their implementation on the disarmament of Hamas.