Netanyahu rejects US-backed Gaza plan, insisting Hamas must disarm first

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has formally turned down a 15-point Gaza peace proposal endorsed by US President Donald Trump. Speaking during televised cabinet remarks, Netanyahu reiterated that Israeli military forces will not pull back from the territory without the total disarmament of Hamas.

Although offensive military operations have recently slowed under American diplomatic pressure, Netanyahu maintained that a troop presence remains necessary to counter ongoing security threats. He explicitly stated that Israel "will not carry out any withdrawal until Hamas is genuinely disarmed" and rejected the document accepted by Hamas in late July.

The refusal highlights widening friction between Jerusalem and Washington as Netanyahu navigates diplomatic strain alongside domestic political considerations ahead of Israel's parliamentary election scheduled for October.

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