Aug 14, 2026, 02:00 AM UTC

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has formally dismissed a US-backed 15-point peace initiative for Gaza, reiterating that Israeli forces will not withdraw until Hamas is fully disarmed.

Addressing his cabinet on Sunday, Netanyahu directly rejected the framework, which had received support from US President Donald Trump and endorsement from Hamas. Netanyahu stated that the Israeli military "will not carry out any withdrawal until Hamas is genuinely disarmed" and pledged to maintain operations countering security threats.

The rejection highlights persistent friction between Jerusalem and Washington, as Netanyahu navigates domestic political pressures from right-wing coalition partners ahead of Israel's national election scheduled for October 27.

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

A fifth consecutive heatwave is affecting large parts of Europe, bringing prolonged drought, record temperatures, and heightened wildfire risks. According to the United Nations meteorological agency, extreme heat episodes across the continent have become more frequent, intense, and long-lasting since baseline shifts noted in 1976.

The persistent high temperatures continue to cause widespread logistical and economic disruptions. Sharply diminished water levels along major waterways such as the Danube and the Rhine are impeding commercial freight transit and constraining electricity generation, with power production in Hungary notably impacted. Observers highlight that the compounding effects of sustained heat and dry conditions have turned the current wildfire season into one of the most severe on record, placing heavy strain on public health systems and regional infrastructure.

Sources: HRT Vijesti, Index, Klix, Poslovni dnevnik, Vijesti.

Greek emergency personnel continue battling extensive wildfires west of Athens, deploying aircraft, ground forces, and military equipment across the Mount Cithaeron area to protect communities including Megara.

In Malta, proceedings continued in the trial regarding the 2017 assassination of investigative journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia, where jurors heard testimony from her son concerning her investigations into alleged corruption involving businessman Yorgen Fenech and government figures.

In Zagreb, Croatia's opposition Social Democratic Party announced an initiative for a vote of no confidence against the ruling coalition between the HDZ and the Homeland Movement, citing outrage over the handling of a hazardous waste scandal in Gospić.

Meanwhile, survey data from the Reuters Institute Digital News Report indicated that 63 percent of respondents in Croatia periodically or frequently avoid news, ranking the country among the highest globally for news avoidance.

Sources: HRT Vijesti, Index, Klix, Poslovni dnevnik