Israel rejects US-backed Gaza peace plan as Netanyahu insists on disarmament

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has explicitly rejected a 15-point Gaza peace proposal backed by US President Donald Trump, marking a visible rift between the two allies. Speaking to his cabinet, Netanyahu stated that "Israel rejects the 15-point document" recently accepted by Hamas, insisting that Israeli forces "will not carry out any withdrawal until Hamas is genuinely disarmed."

The rejection comes despite the Israeli military scaling back strikes in Gaza following diplomatic pressure from Washington. The US administration had framed the proposal as a crucial step toward establishing long-term stability in the region. Netanyahu faces competing political pressures ahead of Israel's national election on 27 October, balancing demands from far-right coalition partners against ties with Washington.

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