Netanyahu rejects US-backed Gaza peace plan, demanding full Hamas disarmament

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has formally rejected a 15-point Gaza peace framework championed by US President Donald Trump, declaring that Israeli troops will not withdraw from the enclave until Hamas is fully disarmed.

Speaking to his cabinet on Sunday, Netanyahu directly addressed the initiative, stating that Israel "rejects the 15-point document" previously endorsed by Hamas. He emphasized that the military "will not carry out any withdrawal until Hamas is genuinely disarmed and will continue to thwart threats against our forces."

The stance marks an overt disagreement with Washington, which recently promoted the proposal as a breakthrough toward a durable regional settlement. Netanyahu's position comes amid complex domestic pressures ahead of Israel's October elections, balancing demands from coalition partners opposed to concessions with diplomatic expectations from the US administration.

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