Israel's Netanyahu rejects US-backed Gaza peace proposal over Hamas disarmament

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has formally rejected a 15-point Gaza peace initiative endorsed by US President Donald Trump, marking a visible rift between the two allies.

Speaking to his cabinet on Sunday, Netanyahu declared that "Israel rejects the 15-point document" and asserted that military forces "will not carry out any withdrawal until Hamas is genuinely disarmed." The statement comes despite a recent pause in major Israeli military strikes following pressure from Washington.

The diplomatic friction arrives as Netanyahu prepares for an upcoming national election on October 27, balancing demands from right-wing coalition partners against relations with the White House. While Hamas previously accepted the US-backed framework in late July, Israeli leadership maintains that security guarantees require the total disarming of militant groups before forces retreat from the territory.

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