Israel officially rejects US-backed Gaza peace plan

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has formally rejected a 15-point Gaza peace framework proposed by US President Donald Trump, reiterating that Israeli forces will not withdraw until Hamas completely disarms. Speaking to his cabinet on Sunday, Netanyahu stated that Israel "will not carry out any withdrawal until Hamas is genuinely disarmed" and pledged to maintain operations against security threats. The statement highlights a growing divergence between Jerusalem and Washington over the proposal, which Hamas endorsed last month. However, under US pressure, Israeli forces have largely scaled back major offensive actions in Gaza. The rejection comes as Netanyahu balances demands from far-right coalition allies against maintaining key international support ahead of Israel's upcoming general election scheduled for October 27.

Sources: Cyprus Mail, France24, STV News, The Guardian, The Herald.