Israel rejects US-backed Gaza peace framework demanding Hamas disarm first

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has explicitly rejected a 15-point US-backed peace proposal for Gaza, maintaining that military forces "will not carry out any withdrawal until Hamas is genuinely disarmed."

Speaking to his cabinet on Sunday, Netanyahu directly addressed the initiative recently unveiled by US President Donald Trump. While Hamas had previously accepted the framework, Israel's government insists that full disarmament must precede any troop pullout and that military operations will continue to neutralize potential security threats.

The decision underscores growing diplomatic friction between Washington and Jerusalem, even as major Israeli strikes in Gaza have quieted following pressure from the United States. Netanyahu's announcement also reflects internal political pressures ahead of Israel's national election scheduled for October 27, as he navigates demands from right-wing coalition partners.

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