Netanyahu rejects US-backed Gaza peace plan over Hamas disarmament

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has formally rejected a 15-point peace framework for Gaza supported by US President Donald Trump, stating that military forces will remain in the enclave until Hamas is "genuinely disarmed."

In televised remarks to his cabinet, Netanyahu emphasized that Israeli troops would continue neutralizing security threats regardless of ongoing diplomatic efforts. Although US diplomatic pressure has significantly reduced major offensive operations in recent days, the refusal underscores a growing rift between Washington and Jerusalem.

Netanyahu faces dual political pressures ahead of Israel's planned general election on 27 October, striving to appease far-right coalition partners while managing relations with Washington. Meanwhile, Hamas had previously accepted the proposed 15-point arrangement in late July.

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