Aug 23, 2026, 08:30 AM UTC

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has formally dismissed a 15-point Gaza peace initiative endorsed by US President Donald Trump, declaring that Israeli forces will not withdraw from the enclave without the complete disarmament of Hamas.

Addressing his cabinet, Netanyahu stated that the military "will not carry out any withdrawal until Hamas is genuinely disarmed and will continue to thwart threats against our forces." The stance highlights a public diplomatic rift with Washington, which had recently announced progress toward a regional settlement.

The rejection comes amid domestic political tensions as Netanyahu campaigns ahead of an election scheduled for late October. The prime minister remains caught between hardline coalition ministers opposing concessions in Gaza and pressure from the White House to secure an enduring ceasefire.

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

Russian forces launched nearly 60 attacks across five districts in Ukraine's Dnipropetrovsk region over a 24-hour period, killing five people and injuring 16 others, local emergency services reported.

The strikes struck several areas across the southeastern region. In the Kamianske district, bombardments killed three residents and left five injured. Another strike on the city of Pavlohrad resulted in two deaths and wounded seven individuals. Additional casualties and damage were recorded in the Nikopol district, which has faced sustained artillery and drone strikes.

First responders and emergency crews deployed across the impacted sites to extinguish blazes, search through debris, and deliver urgent medical assistance to the victims.

Sources: Ziarul de Gardă

A bilateral agreement between Washington and Kyiv to co-produce Patriot air defence interceptor missiles will not be concluded before the coming winter, according to US Ambassador to NATO Matthew Whitaker. Whitaker noted that while collaborative efforts to manufacture air defence systems alongside European partners and Ukraine continue, finalising a long-term production framework will require additional time.

Meanwhile, Ukrainian drone strikes struck commercial distribution infrastructure across multiple Russian regions. Moscow Regional Governor Andrey Vorobyov confirmed that an attack on a logistics facility near the capital killed at least five people and injured ten others. Local authorities reported further drone strikes targeting major e-commerce warehouse facilities in the Saint Petersburg and Tver regions, while Russian defence units intercepted several incoming drones overnight.

Sources: MIA (Media Information Agency), SDK, Sloboden Pečat