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

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has formally rejected a 15-point Gaza peace proposal backed by US President Donald Trump, declaring that Israeli troops will not withdraw until Hamas fully disarms.

Speaking in televised cabinet remarks, Netanyahu stated that Israel "will not carry out any withdrawal until Hamas is genuinely disarmed," directly opposing the plan accepted by Hamas in late July. The announcement highlights a widening diplomatic split between Washington and Jerusalem, even as Israeli forces have largely paused offensive operations under American pressure.

Netanyahu faces domestic political pressure ahead of Israel's national election on October 27, navigating demands from far-right coalition partners while maintaining relations with the United States. Separately, Yemen's Houthi movement claimed responsibility for strikes targeting a Saudi Aramco facility and the Yemeni port of Mokha.

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