Israel rejects US-backed Gaza proposal over Hamas disarmament demands

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has explicitly turned down a US-backed 15-point peace initiative for Gaza, reiterating that armed forces will remain in the territory until Hamas fully surrenders its weapons. Addressing his cabinet in televised remarks, Netanyahu confirmed that "Israel rejects the 15-point document" and stressed that troops "will not carry out any withdrawal until Hamas is genuinely disarmed".

The public refusal highlights growing friction between Jerusalem and Washington, despite Israeli forces recently scaling back offensive operations under American guidance. Netanyahu is attempting to balance diplomatic relations with the White House against pressure from right-wing coalition partners ahead of Israel's national election scheduled for late October.

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