Israel rejects US-backed Gaza peace plan as Netanyahu demands full Hamas disarmament

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has formally rejected a 15-point Gaza peace framework championed by US President Donald Trump, insisting that military forces will not pull back from the enclave until Hamas is completely disarmed.

Addressing his cabinet, Netanyahu declared that Israel "will not carry out any withdrawal until Hamas is genuinely disarmed" and reiterated his opposition to the proposal, which Hamas had previously accepted. The refusal highlights widening diplomatic friction between Jerusalem and Washington, even as Israel's military has recently halted major offensive operations under American pressure.

Netanyahu's position comes amid political maneuvering ahead of Israel's national election on October 27, as he attempts to balance demands from far-right coalition partners against expectations from his key international ally. Separately, Houthi forces claimed responsibility for strikes targeting Yemen's Mokha port and a Saudi Aramco facility.

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