Netanyahu rejects US-backed Gaza peace plan until Hamas disarms

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has explicitly rejected a 15-point Gaza peace proposal backed by US President Donald Trump, declaring that Israeli military forces will not pull out of the territory until Hamas is "genuinely disarmed."

Speaking during televised cabinet remarks, Netanyahu directly turned down the framework, which Hamas had accepted in late July. He insisted that Israeli troops would continue to thwart threats, despite recent Washington pressure that led to a slowdown in military strikes across Gaza.

The stance underscores a growing political divide between Israel and its main foreign backer ahead of Israeli elections scheduled for October 27, with Netanyahu balancing coalition demands from far-right ministers. Meanwhile, regional security remained volatile after Houthi forces claimed strikes against Yemen's Mokha port and a Saudi Aramco facility.

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