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

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has formally rejected a 15-point Gaza peace proposal backed by US President Donald Trump, reiterating that military forces will remain in the enclave.

In televised remarks to his cabinet on Sunday, Netanyahu stated that Israel "will not carry out any withdrawal until Hamas is genuinely disarmed" and confirmed the dismissal of the US-led document, which Hamas accepted in late July.

The decision highlights a growing rift between Washington and Jerusalem, even as Israeli military operations in Gaza have largely paused under American diplomatic pressure. Netanyahu faces internal political pressure ahead of Israel's national election scheduled for October 27, balancing demands from far-right coalition partners who oppose concessions against relations with key international allies.

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