Aug 21, 2026, 08:00 PM UTC

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has reiterated his opposition to a US-backed 15-point peace plan for Gaza, insisting that Israeli forces will not withdraw until Hamas is completely disarmed.

Addressing his cabinet on Sunday, Netanyahu directly dismissed the blueprint recently unveiled by US President Donald Trump and previously endorsed by Hamas. The prime minister stated that the military "will not carry out any withdrawal until Hamas is genuinely disarmed" while continuing operations to prevent potential threats.

The public refusal highlights ongoing diplomatic friction with Washington, which had framed the proposal as a path toward lasting stability. The decision also reflects domestic political pressures on Netanyahu, who faces scrutiny from right-wing coalition members opposing concessions in the enclave ahead of upcoming elections, even amid reduced military operations.

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

Military strikes and diplomatic friction marked ongoing developments across the Middle East. The Israeli military conducted an airstrike in Khan Younis, reporting the death of a Hamas company commander allegedly planning an assault on Israeli troops. In southern Lebanon, Israeli strikes on Tebnine and al-Mansouri killed one person and injured eleven others, coinciding with diplomatic discussions taking place in Rome.

Politically, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu formally rejected a 15-point post-war framework drafted by a US-led peace committee, asserting that Hamas intended to exploit the initiative to avert defensive operations. Despite this stance, Israeli leadership reportedly granted initial clearance for reconstruction efforts in southern Gaza.

Concurrently, US President Donald Trump observed that economic pressure on Tehran is intensifying, while Iranian military commanders cautioned that any potential foreign ground incursions would face decisive retaliation.

Sources: CDM (Cafe del Montenegro), Dan, Danas, Klix, N1.

Emergency services in Ukraine reported that Russian strikes across five districts of the Dnipropetrovsk region killed five people and wounded 16 others over a 24-hour period.

Russian forces conducted nearly 60 separate attacks against the region. Three fatalities and five injuries were documented in the Kamianske district, while strikes in Pavlohrad left two dead and seven injured. Additional casualties occurred in the Nikopol district, where local responders worked to extinguish fires and assist residents amid ongoing bombardment.

Sources: Ziarul de Gardă