Israel's Netanyahu explicitly rejects US-backed Gaza peace plan

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has formally rejected a 15-point Gaza peace proposal endorsed by US President Donald Trump and accepted by Hamas.

In televised remarks to his cabinet on Sunday, Netanyahu declared that "Israel rejects the 15-point document" and affirmed that Israeli forces "will not carry out any withdrawal until Hamas is genuinely disarmed." The decision highlights a growing diplomatic rift between Washington and Tel Aviv, even as Israeli offensive operations in Gaza have recently slowed under American diplomatic pressure.

Netanyahu faces conflicting political demands ahead of Israel's national election on October 27, balancing pressure from Washington with opposition from far-right coalition partners against territorial concessions. Separately, regional security concerns persisted as Houthi forces claimed responsibility for recent strikes targeting infrastructure in Yemen and Saudi Arabia.

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