Aug 28, 2026, 03:30 PM UTC

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has rejected a 15-point Gaza peace proposal backed by US President Donald Trump, insisting Israeli forces will not withdraw until Hamas is "genuinely disarmed."

Addressing his cabinet on Sunday, Netanyahu said Israel "will not carry out any withdrawal until Hamas is genuinely disarmed and will continue to thwart threats against our forces." The statement publicly counters the US-backed plan, which Hamas had accepted.

The decision highlights growing friction with Washington as Netanyahu navigates political pressure ahead of Israel's October 27 election, even as military strikes in Gaza have decreased under American influence.

Separately, Houthi militants in Yemen claimed responsibility for strikes targeting the port of Mokha and a Saudi Aramco facility.

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

German law enforcement and intelligence agencies are investigating more than 100 suspected cases of state-sponsored sabotage and espionage across the country, according to reports from multiple media outlets. The incidents include unauthorized drone flights over critical military infrastructure, disrupted rail networks, cyberattacks, and targeted disinformation campaigns.

Recent investigations revealed the discovery of a clandestine weapons cache containing two loaded handguns near the Berlin border, allegedly hidden by Russian operatives for prospective physical operations. This follows an August incident at Leipzig Airport, where a drone carrying high explosives failed to detonate near Ukrainian cargo planes due to a faulty ignition system. Security officials view these escalating actions as part of a coordinated hybrid warfare strategy designed to destabilize democratic institutions and public safety.

Sources: Correctiv, Der Standard, Die Zeit, FAZ, Tagesschau

Norway has entered a period of national mourning following the death of King Harald V at the age of 89. The Norwegian royal court confirmed that the monarch passed away peacefully at Oslo's Rikshospitalet at 06:35 local time on Friday. Europe's oldest reigning monarch had been hospitalized for treatment of hemolytic anemia, a rare blood condition, alongside a bacterial infection.

Members of the royal family gathered at the hospital prior to his passing as citizens assembled outside the palace in Oslo, where flags were lowered to half-mast. Tributes poured in from foreign monarchs, including King Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden, who expressed deep sadness over his passing. Upon King Harald's death, Crown Prince Haakon automatically acceded to the Norwegian throne.

Sources: BBC News, Berlingske, France24, ORF, The Local Sweden

United States President Donald Trump and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth have denied reports that American military ammunition reserves are dangerously low following operations against Iran. Trump claimed on social media that the military maintains substantial stockpiles of specialized munitions, while threatening reporters and leakers with severe prison sentences.

Concurrently, diplomatic status remains disputed. While Trump publicly stated that negotiations with Tehran have resumed—calling it Iran's final opportunity for a deal—Iranian officials maintain that no discussions are occurring or planned.

At the same time, prolonged deployments in the Middle East are impacting personnel. Service members aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln are reportedly suffering from exhaustion and mental strain due to extended operational schedules, raising concerns among families regarding potential military errors.

Sources: Der Standard, Die Zeit, FAZ, ORF, Tagesschau

Russian forces executed a widespread combined air attack using missiles and drones across Ukraine, hitting targets in Kyiv, Odesa, Chernihiv, Kharkiv, and Zaporizhzhia. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky stated that the strikes killed at least 13 people and injured dozens, causing extensive damage to civilian infrastructure. Meanwhile, Russian authorities reported intercepting several Ukrainian drones targeting Moscow.

The military escalation coincides with mounting domestic political tension in Kyiv. Former Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov publicly demanded national elections, arguing that "democracy cannot be held hostage by Russia." His comments follow his recent dismissal and coincide with anti-corruption investigations into figures linked to the presidency, as Ukrainian lawmakers prepare to vote on confirming Yevhenii Khmara as defense minister.

Sources: ANSA, Corriere della Sera, Il Messaggero, La Repubblica.