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

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has formally rejected a 15-point Gaza peace proposal backed by US President Donald Trump, reiterating that Israeli troops will not pull out of the enclave until Hamas is completely disarmed. Addressing his cabinet in televised remarks, Netanyahu stated that Israel "will not carry out any withdrawal until Hamas is genuinely disarmed" and confirmed the country's refusal to accept the framework agreed to by Hamas in late July.

The refusal highlights growing diplomatic friction between Washington and Jerusalem, even as military operations in Gaza have slowed following American pressure. Netanyahu faces a delicate political balancing act ahead of Israel's upcoming national election on October 27, navigating demands from far-right coalition partners alongside pressure from the White House. Separately, regional tensions persist as Houthi militants claimed strikes on targets in Yemen and Saudi Arabia.

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