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

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has formally rejected a 15-point Gaza peace initiative introduced by US President Donald Trump, declaring that military forces "will not carry out any withdrawal until Hamas is genuinely disarmed."

Speaking to his cabinet on Sunday, Netanyahu stressed that operations will persist to counter security threats, even as major Israeli attacks in the enclave have largely halted following American diplomatic pressure. Hamas had accepted the proposed framework in late July, making Israel's rejection a notable point of friction with Washington.

The decision comes as Netanyahu faces political pressure ahead of Israel's national election on October 27, balancing demands from far-right coalition partners against expectations from the United States. Separately, Houthi militants claimed responsibility for recent strikes in Saudi Arabia and Yemen.

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