Netanyahu rejects US-backed Gaza peace plan until Hamas disarms

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has formally rejected a 15-point Gaza peace proposal backed by US President Donald Trump, declaring that Israeli military forces will not withdraw from the enclave until Hamas is "genuinely" disarmed.

Addressing his cabinet, Netanyahu stated that Israel would continue military operations to counter threats against its troops. The decision comes despite Hamas previously accepting the framework, which Washington had promoted as a major diplomatic breakthrough. Netanyahu's stance highlights growing tension with the US administration, even as Israeli military strikes in Gaza have slowed under American pressure. The prime minister faces delicate domestic political dynamics ahead of Israel's national election on October 27, balancing demands from far-right coalition partners against pressure from international allies. Meanwhile, regional instability persists following separate Houthi strikes targeting Saudi Aramco infrastructure and Yemen’s Mokha port.

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