Netanyahu formally rejects US-backed Gaza peace plan

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has explicitly rejected a 15-point Gaza peace framework backed by US President Donald Trump, declaring that Israeli troops will not pull back from the territory without the total disarmament of Hamas.

In televised remarks to his cabinet, Netanyahu stated that "Israel rejects the 15-point document" previously accepted by Hamas, confirming that forces "will not carry out any withdrawal until Hamas is genuinely disarmed." The public rejection highlights growing diplomatic friction with Washington, even as Israeli military operations in Gaza have slowed under American pressure.

Netanyahu's stance comes ahead of Israel's general election on October 27, as he balances demands from far-right coalition partners against expectations from the White House. Meanwhile, wider regional tensions persist following reported Houthi attacks targeting infrastructure in Yemen and Saudi Arabia.

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