Oct 25, 2026, 06:30 AM UTC

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has explicitly rejected a 15-point Gaza peace framework put forward by US President Donald Trump's administration and previously accepted by Hamas.

In televised remarks to his cabinet on Sunday, Netanyahu stated that Israel "will not carry out any withdrawal until Hamas is genuinely disarmed." He affirmed that military operations would continue to counter ongoing threats against Israeli forces.

The public rejection highlights growing political friction between Jerusalem and Washington ahead of Israel's general election scheduled for 27 October. Caught between domestic far-right allies opposing concessions and diplomatic pressure from the White House, Netanyahu has maintained a firm stance on security requirements. Despite the disagreement, active Israeli offensive operations in Gaza have effectively paused.

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

France’s Constitutional Council has validated landmark legislation legalizing conditional assisted dying, ruling that the reform respects constitutional principles. The magistrates issued three interpretative reservations, notably preserving a conscience clause for private and religious healthcare institutions. French President Emmanuel Macron welcomed the ruling, describing it as completing an "exemplary democratic debate."

Additionally, the council approved an emergency agricultural bill reviewed during the same session. However, it struck down the primary provision of a digital policy law that aimed to ban social media access for children under 15. The magistrates determined that the general prohibition constituted a disproportionate restriction on personal freedoms.

Sources: La Tribune, Le Figaro, Le Monde, Libération, Politico Europe (Defense)

French authorities have finalized extensive security measures ahead of planned nationwide demonstrations on Saturday, focusing heavily on Orléans where the National Rally (RN) is holding its party congress. Authorities expect between 20,000 and 30,000 counter-demonstrators in Orléans, prompting the deployment of nearly 3,000 law enforcement officers, a curfew for minors under 15, and a total ban on undeclared gatherings on Sunday during Marine Le Pen’s planned address.

Across the country, around 70,000 police officers and gendarmes will be mobilized in major metropolitan areas, including Paris, Marseille, and Lyon. Paris police have also authorized aerial drone surveillance to manage crowds. Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu warned that security forces will maintain high mobility and rapid response capabilities to handle potential violence, following earlier clashes during cost-of-living protests. Meanwhile, President Emmanuel Macron stated that only union-authorized demonstrations will be permitted.

Sources: La Tribune, Le Figaro, Le Monde, Libération, RTBF Info.

Former French presidential candidate Ségolène Royal has officially gathered the endorsements required to compete in October's left-wing primary ahead of the 2027 presidential election. Royal will join six other declared candidates, including Socialist Party First Secretary Olivier Faure, whose bid was recently confirmed. The primary, jointly organized by the Socialist Party and Place Publique, is scheduled over two rounds on 9–10 and 16–17 October.

Royal praised her enduring connections within the party, though her entry has reignited internal friction following public criticisms of rival candidate Raphaël Glucksmann. Meanwhile, wider fragmentation on the French left persists, underscored by Communist Party leader Fabien Roussel launching an independent campaign outside the primary process.

Sources: La Tribune, Le Figaro, Le Monde, Libération.

Firefighters across southern France have stabilized several blazes, though emergency services remain on high alert due to severe weather conditions. In the Aude department, a wildfire near Montséret that burned 100 hectares was brought under control following a major response involving 240 firefighters, 60 vehicles, and ten aircraft. Meanwhile, another blaze in Puilaurens covering 225 hectares remains "active" due to difficult terrain, despite its perimeter being stabilized.

In the Var department, where previous fires have been extinguished, authorities closed seven forest massifs to the public on Friday as a precaution against extreme wildfire risks. Nationwide, official figures show that over 115,000 hectares have been destroyed by fires this year. Armed Forces Minister Sébastien Lecornu is scheduled to visit Gironde on August 17 to initiate regional reconstruction efforts following massive fire damage.

Sources: Le Figaro, Le Monde, Le Soir, Libération, RTBF Info.