Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has formally rejected the US-backed 15-point "Board of Peace" roadmap to disarm Hamas in Gaza, telling his cabinet that Israel would not withdraw its forces until all Hamas weaponry, heavy and light, is genuinely decommissioned. However, the rejection is unlikely to be the last word on the matter, as the White House has reportedly not been troubled by the statement, viewing it as political posturing ahead of a heated Israeli general election due in October.

A senior US official was quoted as saying Washington understood Netanyahu's political needs and had no issue with the rejection provided he continued to restrain attacks in Gaza, and recent days have indeed seen an apparent pause in Israeli strikes, one of Hamas's conditions for accepting the plan. Trump announced the disarmament agreement in July as a "major milestone", with Hamas conditionally on board and the EU and UK welcoming it, though Israel had withheld formal approval for over a week amid objections from figures including far-right minister Itamar Ben-Gvir. Despite Netanyahu's rejection, preparations for deploying an International Stabilisation Force reportedly continue, with construction of its first base in Rafah still expected to begin by the end of the month.