Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu rejects US Gaza peace plan

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has formally rejected a 15-point US-backed peace proposal for Gaza, creating a public rift with Washington ahead of Israel's national election on October 27. Addressing his cabinet in televised remarks, Netanyahu insisted that the Israeli military "will not carry out any withdrawal until Hamas is genuinely disarmed and will continue to thwart threats against our forces."

The refusal directly challenges recent claims of diplomatic progress by US President Donald Trump. Although Israeli military operations in Gaza have slowed following diplomatic pressure from Washington, Netanyahu's decision to reject the framework—which Hamas agreed to late last month—highlights growing friction between the two allies. The prime minister faces competing pressures from Washington to negotiate and from far-right coalition partners who strongly oppose territorial concessions.

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