Netanyahu rejects US-backed Gaza plan demanding full disarmament of Hamas

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has formally rejected a 15-point Gaza proposal supported by US President Donald Trump, reiterating that Israeli forces will not pull out of the territory without total demilitarisation by Hamas. Speaking in televised remarks to his cabinet on Sunday, Netanyahu stated that Israel "will not carry out any withdrawal until Hamas is genuinely disarmed" and confirmed the rejection of the framework previously accepted by Hamas.

The decision underscores a rift between Jerusalem and Washington, even as Israeli military operations in Gaza have slowed following American intervention. Netanyahu's announcement comes as he prepares for Israel's upcoming general election on October 27, balancing demands from coalition allies alongside diplomatic pressure from Washington. Meanwhile, regional security concerns persist following Houthi claims of strikes in Yemen and Saudi Arabia.

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