Oct 22, 2026, 09:30 AM UTC

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has formally rejected a 15-point US-backed peace proposal for Gaza during a televised cabinet meeting. The framework, previously endorsed by US President Donald Trump and accepted by Hamas, included provisions for a military pullout. However, Netanyahu asserted that Israeli forces "will not carry out any withdrawal until Hamas is genuinely disarmed."

The stance highlights a widening diplomatic rift between Washington and Israel, occurring alongside Netanyahu's re-election campaign ahead of the October 27 vote. While far-right coalition members oppose concessions in Gaza, Israeli offensive operations have recently slowed under American pressure. In a separate development, Houthi rebels claimed responsibility for attacks against a Saudi oil facility and Yemen's Mokha port.

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

A second strike in two days hit King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh, damaging terminal facilities, igniting fires, and keeping flight operations grounded. In eastern Saudi Arabia, a separate strike on Dammam airport killed one person and wounded eight, while coalition forces intercepted four incoming drones.

Houthi military spokesperson Yahya Saree issued a warning for airlines and passengers to avoid Saudi airspace, declaring it a "theatre of operations" while excluding holy sites in Mecca and Medina. In response, the Saudi-led coalition conducted retaliatory strikes across Yemen, and US President Donald Trump stated the attacks were "not acceptable." Discrepancies remain regarding total casualties in Riyadh, with sources reporting between 12 and 13 fatalities and over 300 injured.

Sources: BBC News, France24, STV News, Sweden Herald, The Guardian.

A tense standoff persists in Portadown after police halted a restricted Orange Order march near Garvaghy Road on Sunday. An early-morning ruling from the High Court had sustained a determination by the Parades Commission allowing a silent procession of 35 order members, representing the first authorization for the route since the late 1990s.

The procession was prevented from proceeding after thousands of counter-protesters, including Northern Ireland First Minister Michelle O'Neill, assembled along the predominantly nationalist thoroughfare. Law enforcement officers intervened to stop the marchers, citing safety concerns. Although the permitted window passed, opposing crowds stayed at the site while officials and community figures engaged in talks to defuse the situation at the flashpoint.

Sources: BBC Northern Ireland, France24, STV News, Sweden Herald, The Guardian

An Austrian woman and a Swiss national kidnapped in northern Niger in early 2025 have been released after over a year in captivity, according to official reports and Libyan media. The two women arrived in the eastern Libyan city of Benghazi following their release.

A video broadcast by eastern Libyan television showed the women expressing gratitude to military commander Khalifa Haftar and his son Saddam Haftar for securing their freedom. The hostages had been abducted in separate incidents in the city of Agadez. Details surrounding the identity of the captors or whether any demands were met remain undisclosed. Austrian and Swiss diplomatic representatives are reportedly completing administrative procedures to take custody of both citizens.

Sources: Aftenposten, BBC News, Der Standard, Die Presse, ORF