Netanyahu formally rejects US-backed Gaza peace initiative

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has explicitly turned down a 15-point Gaza peace proposal backed by US President Donald Trump, reiterating that Israeli troops will remain in the enclave until Hamas completely surrenders its weapons.

Speaking to his cabinet on Sunday, Netanyahu stated that "Israel rejects the 15-point document" previously agreed upon by Hamas in late July. He affirmed that military forces "will not carry out any withdrawal until Hamas is genuinely disarmed" and announced that operations to counter security threats against Israeli soldiers would persist.

The explicit rejection highlights growing policy friction between Washington and Jerusalem, even as Israeli airstrikes have recently slowed under American diplomatic influence. Facing an upcoming general election on October 27, Netanyahu remains under domestic political pressure from far-right coalition partners who oppose concessions in the region.

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