Aug 23, 2026, 10:30 AM UTC

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has reiterated his rejection of a 15-point Gaza peace plan promoted by US President Donald Trump, insisting that Israeli forces will not withdraw until Hamas is completely disarmed.

Addressing his cabinet in televised remarks, 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 announcement underscores a public disagreement with Washington, which had recently announced progress toward a regional settlement that Hamas reportedly endorsed in late July.

The political friction coincides with domestic pressures ahead of Israel's scheduled October elections, where Netanyahu faces competing demands from right-wing coalition partners opposed to concessions and US officials pushing for an enduring ceasefire.

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

Intense cross-border strikes and frontline clashes have continued across Ukraine and Russia, causing significant casualties and widespread damage.

In Ukraine, Russian missile and drone bombardments killed at least ten people in Kharkiv and nine in Kyiv, injuring dozens more and damaging residential areas, stores, and transport infrastructure. On the battlefield, Russian troops advanced near Artilne and maintained pressure around Kostyantynivka, while Ukrainian units pressed toward Uspenivka. Belarus also announced the formation of an air assault brigade near the Ukrainian border.

Simultaneously, extensive Ukrainian drone operations struck several Russian territories. In the Moscow region, strikes killed five people, injured ten, and ignited a warehouse fire. In Leningrad Oblast, falling drone debris caused a major fire at a commercial logistics facility in Krasny Bor. Meanwhile, a drone crashed onto a beach in Krasnodar Krai's Arkhipo-Osipovka, killing seven people and injuring roughly 40.

Sources: Mediazona, Point, Sweden Herald, The Insider, Радіо Свобода

Bulgarian defence officials reported that an unmanned aerial vehicle that crashed in the country's northeastern region matches a model "largely used by Ukrainian armed forces."

Authorities stated that ongoing technical investigations have found no evidence indicating a deliberate strike aimed at Bulgarian territory. The drone came down in the vicinity of critical energy infrastructure but did not explode, causing no casualties or damage. Specialized military and security personnel are analyzing the recovered debris to reconstruct the aircraft's flight path, point of origin, and the cause of the crash. Bulgarian authorities continue to coordinate with regional partners while reviewing airspace surveillance and monitoring measures.

Sources: Le Monde.